Where are California wildfires burning? Weather favorable in fight against state's large fires
Sac Bee's VINCENT MOLESKI/MICHAEL MCGOUGH/ROSALIO AHUMADA: "Even with nearly 300 lightning strikes across California overnight, Cal Fire officials said weather conditions were more favorable for the firefighters who have battled 625 wildfires that have burned 1.4 million acres throughout the state over the past week.
It appeared Northern California, where two of the largest fires in state’s history continued to burn Monday, had not had any severe flare-ups through early Monday. But firefighters continued to lookout for more lightning-caused wildfires and the potential for additional lightning, according to Cal Fire.
Firefighters and aircraft from 10 states began arriving in California to help weary crews battling some of the largest blazes in state history as weekend weather threatened to renew the advance of flames that have killed six people and incinerated hundreds of homes."
READ MORE related to Wildfire Season: Wildfires continue to illuminate holes in California's emergency alert messaging -- LA Times's JOSEPH SERNA; How bad is the air quality? Here's how to tell -- Sac Bee's ALYSSA HODENFIELD; Rescue network forged by years of Bay Area wildfires saves animals large and small -- The Chronicle's KELLIE HWANG/NORA MISHANEC; 'It's like we're living on Mars': Air pollution chokes Bay Area skies, increasing COVID-19 concerns -- The Chronicle's MALLORY MOENCH/VANESSA ARREDONDO; Where to find help for Bay Area animals displaced by wildfires -- The Chronicle's KELLIE HWANG; 7 dead, multiple structures destroyed as 625 fires burn in California -- LA Times's RONG-GONG LIN II/LUKE MONEY
California redistricting commission gets up to speed
PAUL MITCHELL, Capitol Weekly: "The California Citizen’s Redistricting Commission has now seated all 14 members that will redraw the state’s legislative, congressional and Board of Equalization seats in 2021.
This team is comprised of eight commissioners selected through a random draw among 35 finalists, and the remaining six are chosen through a selection process intended to balance out the commission on a number of factors, including race, ethnicity, gender, geography and skill sets.
The commission will draw up the maps for 40 state Senate and 80 Assembly seats, four Board of Equalization seats and as many as 53 congressional districts, although California may actually lose one or two congressional seats. The maps will be used in the 2022 elections."
Disease experts worry FDA's action on plasma could derail study of coronavirus treatment
Sac Bee's CATHIE ANDERSON: "The Trump Administration gave convalescent blood plasma the emergency go-ahead as a treatment for Americans battling COVID-19, but infectious disease experts said they fear this step could sabotage clinical studies aimed at determining the effectiveness of the treatment.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar hailed the FDA’s emergency authorization for the use of convalescent plasma as a “milestone” in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
But Dr. Thomas M. File Jr., president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said while the therapies have shown promise, especially if administered early, researchers need more data from randomized, double-blind studies — those in which neither the subjects nor those conducting the study know which subjects are in the test and control groups."
READ MORE related to Pandemic: First confirmed case of coronavirus reinfection emerges. What does it tell us? -- The Chronicle's PETER FIMRITE; Tahoe's new Gold Rush: Bay Area residents fleeing coronavirus push up home prices -- The Chronicle's JK DINEEN; California counties stuck in limbo as they wait for Newsom's reopening rules -- LA Times's TARYN LUNA/MELODY GUTIERREZ
Proposed ban on flavored tobacco products clears California Assembly
Sac Bee's ANDREW SHEELER: "A bill to ban the sale of most flavored tobacco products in California cleared a major hurdle Monday when lawmakers in the Assembly voted overwhelmingly to pass it.
Senate Bill 793 passed the Assembly floor with a 50-0 vote, with 30 lawmakers abstaining from voting.
Because the bill was amended in the Assembly to include exemptions for pipe tobacco and cigars worth $12 or more, it now goes back to the Senate for a final vote. The bill also has an exemption for hookah products."
Trump, Biden agree on one big thing: Election will turn on the person, more than policy
LA Times's JANET HOOK: "For all their differences, Donald Trump and Joe Biden share a similar view of the 2020 election: It’s more a choice between two men than between competing agendas.
“Character is on the ballot,” Biden says often. His acceptance speech last week focused far more on the kind of person he is than on what he would do as president. At the Democratic convention, the portrait of Biden as a kind, empathetic family man was a studied contrast to the thrice-married, bombastic reality show star who is now president.
At this week’s Republican gathering, Trump’s supporters also framed the election as a test of leadership character."
READ MORE related to RNC: 5 takeaways from the first night of the RNC -- LA Times's MARK Z BARABAK; Nikki Haley, potential 2024 GOP candidate, defends Trump at Republican convention -- LA Times's SEEMA MEHTA
California teacher claims Kamala Harris tried to silence her over union fees
Sac Bee's DAVID LIGHTMAN/ADAM ASHTON: "A former California school teacher blasted Kamala Harris and Democrats at the Republican National Convention Monday for their role in fighting a lawsuit against the California Teachers Association to challenge fair share fees.
“Democrats stand with deceptive teachers unions who pick on loving teachers and little kids,” Rebecca Friedrichs said. “President Trump stands with America’s families, great teachers, and most importantly our children.”
Friedrichs’ suit against CTA reached the Supreme Court in 2016, where justices after Antonin Scalia’s death deadlocked on her case and allowed the union to continue collecting fair share fees from teachers who had not opted into the organization."
Newsom's ex-wife takes on California in RNC speech
Sac Bee's DAVID LIGHTMAN: "Kimberly Guilfoyle, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s wife when he was mayor of San Francisco, told the Republican convention Monday Democrats had turned her ex-husband’s state “into a land of discarded heroin needles in parks, riots in streets and blackouts in homes.”
Guilfoyle is now dating Donald Trump Jr., son of the president. She and Newsom, who became mayor in 2003, divorced in 2006, saying a bicoastal relationship had taken a toll on their marriage.
A former host of “The Five” on the Fox News Network, she delivered a passionate speech Monday warning that America’s cities are being overrun by anarchy. Trump, Guilfoyle said, “is the law and order president."
California unemployment call centers need 2 more months to finish COVID-19 expansion
Sac Bee's DAVID LIGHTMAN: "California’s embattled unemployment agency will combine its call centers, which should make it much easier for claimants to get help with more personal, often vexing questions — but not until October.
In the meantime, the state will continue to boost its staffing on its call lines. The line where employees handle more complex questions will be available from 8 a.m. until noon Monday through Friday. Its other line, which provides largely technical assistance, is available every day from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Consumers have been complaining to state lawmakers and The Sacramento Bee for months that they have tremendous difficulty reaching anyone on those lines."
Bay Area students under stress from pandemic face wildfire risks
The Chronicle's JILL TUCKER: "Students in the Bonny Doon school district had been back in class — virtually — for two days before the wildfires forced them to evacuate, many fleeing for their lives in the middle of the night Wednesday.
Teachers and students lost homes to the powerful wildfires raging through the charming, wooded town in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
School had just started, but now Superintendent Mike Heffner, who is also the principal of the district’s lone school, said he has no idea when teaching might resume and how the community will come back together."
