California prepping for potentially catastrophic clash with COVID-19 and the wildfire season
The Chronicle's J.D. MORRIS: "Northern California may still be grappling with the novel coronavirus outbreak when it begins to face the more familiar threat of dangerous wildfires, and emergency officials are already contemplating that possibility.
It’s not clear exactly how long the new virus will cause disruptionssuch as school closures, event cancellations and quarantines — or whether its spread will be abated by warmer weather, like the common cold and flu. But California diagnoses of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, are expected to continue rising for the foreseeable future.
At the same time, most of the state has been experiencing abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions after receiving little precipitation during what should be the wettest part of the year. The Sierra Nevada snowpack was less than 40% of its normal level as of last week, and Northern California has broadly received far below its average rainfall amounts so far this year."
READ MORE related to Wildfire Season: Senator Harris 'very concerned' about COVID-19 and wildfires -- The Chronicle's J.D. MORRIS
DMV bans walk-ins, suspends driving tests
Sac Bee's ANDREW SHEELER: "The California Department of Motor Vehicles is suspending walk-in visits and immediately canceling all behind-the-wheel driving tests for the next 30 days as part of its response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The DMV will contact those who had driving tests scheduled, according to a statement the department released Wednesday evening describing new efforts it’s taking to limit the spread of the virus.
Starting Thursday, the department also will turn away anyone who comes to an office without an appointment. Those customers will be given an opportunity to schedule a visit, the department said."
Can't telework? You might get a new state job, according to Newsom admin
Sac Bee's WES VENTEICHER: 'Many of the California state workers who reported to their offices Wednesday will have to keep showing up — whether or not their job is essential — under the latest guidance from Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Workers have anticipated new direction from Newsom since Sunday, when he said it was coming Tuesday. They continued showing up at offices in Sacramento and the Bay Area even after local officials issued shelter-in-place directives.
A central frustration among workers has been the discretion the state has left mid-level managers to decide who may and who may not work from home under telecommuting agreements."
READ MORE related to COVID-19: Placer County/Roseville declare emergency, issue 'Stay Home' request amid COVID-19 spread -- Sac Bee's MICHAEL MCGOUGH/ALEXANDRA YOON-HENDRICKS; Three residents of Elk Grove senior home where woman died test positive for COVID-19 -- Sac Bee's THERESA CLIFT; Federal courthouses in NorCal closed to public due to virus -- Sac Bee's SAM STANTON; LA to add 6,000 shelter beds for homeless Angelenos in hope of slowing viral spread -- LA Times's DAVID ZAHNISER/LAURA J NELSON/DAKOTA SMITH; Cases in OC jump to 42; officials clarify restrictions -- LA Times's JACLYN COSGROVE/ANH DO
Audit finds troubling errors in UC admissions in wake of Varsity Blues scandal
The Chronicle's NANETTE ASIMOV: "At the University of California, one campus admitted an applicant to a coveted slot for top athletes who then never appeared on the team roster after enrolling. Another campus accepted a homespun computer printout as proof of an applicant’s equestrian talents. A third inexplicably let an applicant use his musical track record as proof that he’d won a science award.
These are among the admissions anomalies documented by UC’s latest internal audit — the second of three reports — presented Wednesday at the university’s first all-virtual regents meeting. The meeting, originally to be at UCLA, came off successfully, complete with impassioned call-in testimony and only the occasional dropped call or small technical glitch, quickly fixed.
The regents ordered the audits after last year’s national admissions scandal, Varsity Blues, rocked elite college campuses across the country, including UCLA and UC Berkeley. Celebrities and other wealthy parents of students seeking admission into those schools were among more than 50 people — including 33 parents — charged in the conspiracy. Several have pleaded guilty."
Feds extend tax payment deadline for 90 days; halt mortgage foreclosures for 60 days
The Chronicle's KATHLEEN PENDER: "The federal government on Wednesday gave taxpayers an extra 90 days to pay their federal taxes and announced it won’t pursue foreclosures or evictions on government-guaranteed mortgages for at least 60 days.
The two measures are designed to help Americans facing financial hardships because of the coronavirus, but they apply to everyone.
The Internal Revenue Service officially gave all individuals an extra 90 days to pay up to $1 million in federal income taxes, which are normally due April 15, without penalties or interest. Corporations get an extra 90 days to pay up to $10 million."
Who's hiring in California amid the pandemic?
Sac Bee's ANDREW SHEELER: "As the coronavirus continues to spread, the economic forecast for California looks dismal as residents change their spending habits and brace for a recession.
But, some businesses and industries expect to grow in the COVID-19 pandemic. Expect to see help wanted ads for home-delivery services, grocery stores and some jobs in transportation.
Among the most notable businesses to engage in mass hiring is online retail giant Amazon, which announced this week that it is adding 100,000 new full- and part-time positions “to meet the surge in demand from people relying on Amazon’s service during this stressful time, particularly those most vulnerable to being out in public,” according to an Amazon statement."
READ MORE related to Economy: Tesla to slash workers showing up at Fremont Plant by three-quarters -- The Chronicle's CHASE DIFELICIANTONIO; New telecommuting guidance for state workers amid outbreak -- Sac Bee's WES VENTEICHER
UCLA Seniors "devastated" as campus cancels traditional graduation ceremonies
LA Times's TERESA WATANABE: "UCLA will cancel traditional graduation ceremonies and hold them remotely to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Chancellor Gene Block announced Wednesday.
“As we all work to limit the spread of COVID-19, it has become increasingly clear that we will not be able to gather in person for spring 2020 commencement ceremonies, so the College commencement, doctoral hooding ceremony and all campus graduation ceremonies will be adapted to be virtual events,” Block said in a message to the campus community.
The announcement devastated many seniors, who said they feel robbed of the joyous capstone to their college journey. Already, students are circulating at least three petitions signed by thousands of people urging UCLA officials to reverse what they regard as a premature decision, said Victoria Solkovits, a student leader and senior majoring in political science and human biology and society."
How California is responding to potential hospital crises
Sac Bee's JASON POHL/MICHAEL FINCH II/RYAN SABALOW: "California is facing the frightening prospect of local hospitals overwhelmed by thousands of patients with COVID-19 in the coming weeks, as they confront potentially severe shortages of ventilators, bed space, donated blood, respirators and nurses.
On Wednesday, the federal government said it would move 1,000-bed hospital ships into New York to deal with the new coronavirus pandemic. That followed an offer by the U.S. Department of Defense to open up its strategic supply of ventilators, single-use masks and other supplies, potentially easing a shortage of life-saving equipment.
And in Oregon and Colorado, Kaiser Permanente was temporarily closing some clinics so it could redeploy staff and equipment to hospitals in anticipation of a surge in patients."
READ MORE related to Healthcare: Nursing home staff spread COVID-19 to other facilities, CDC investigation finds -- LA Times's RICHARD READ; California asks Navy for hospital ship and two mobile hospitals -- LA Times's PHIL WILLON
Spring begins Thursday with vernal equinox. What does that mean?
LA Times's PAUL DUGINSKI: "When Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow on Groundhog Day this year, it meant we could expect an early spring.
Maybe Phil checked the calendar before he emerged from his burrow in Punxsutawney, Pa., and he knew that the vernal or spring equinox would fall on March 19 this year because of leap day. Spring hasn’t arrived this early in the U.S. since 1896."
Public Safety: Low-level, non-violent offenders being released from jails in response to outbreak
Sac Bee's SAM STANTON/DARRELL SMITH: "Concerned about crowded conditions that may exacerbate a coronavirus crisis in the jail system, Sacramento County sheriff’s officials began releasing non-violent inmates Tuesday night from jails.
The releases so far amount only to a handful of inmates and only apply to individuals within 30 days of their scheduled release date, said Sgt. Tess Deterding, a spokeswoman for Sheriff Scott Jones.
“This is not like a mass exodus,” Deterding said Wednesday. “It’s very small and meticulous. They are evaluating each person’s mental health and whether they have the recourse to function once they are let out the door, especially with what’s going on right now."
Two members of Congress - a Republican and a Democrat -- said they've tested positive for COVID-19
LA Times's JAWEED KALEEM: "Two members of Congress — Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Florida Republican, and Rep. Ben McAdams, a Utah Democrat — announced on Wednesday that they had tested positive for the coronavirus, as the pandemic continued to spread.
Díaz-Balart was the first to make the announcement.
“On Saturday evening, Congressman Diaz-Balart developed symptoms including a fever and headache,” his office announced. “Just a short while ago, he was notified that he has tested positive for COVID-19.”
