Interactive map shows the current air quality for every part of California and the US
Sacramento Bee, STAFF: "As wildfires continue to burn across Northern California, air quality is top of mind for many. The air has been hazardous for days in many communities in the region.
This interactive map shows community-level air quality readings for all of California (it also has data for other states). The data updates every hour.
This chart also allows you to search for your city to see the air quality for today and two previous days. The charts indicate readings from good to hazardous."
READ MORE WILDFIRE NEWS --- Can Tahoe be saved? Wildfire, climate change endanger the future of a California jewel -- Sacramento Bee, DALE KASLER/RYAN SABALOW/JASON POHL
COVID-19 outbreak sidelines 'whole strike team of crews' battling Caldor Fire near South Lake Tahoe
ERIC TING, Chornicle: "An outbreak of COVID-19 has sidelined a strike team of 16 firefighters battling the Caldor Fire, which is currently approaching the South Lake Tahoe area.
During a Tuesday morning operations briefing, Cal Fire incident commander Jeff Veik announced the loss of the crews, and warned other firefighters to follow the agency's COVID-19 protocols.
"We lost a whole strike team of crews yesterday, we lost a finance section chief due to [being] COVID positive, so understand, do not come to this briefing without a mask on," he said. "I understand your views are important and I will always respect that as one of our leaders, but you are here at a briefing. One more COVID firefighter getting sick could take out our actions to protect the community and the people we're here to serve."
Evacuation orders issued in Nevada as Caldor fire moves toward Lake Tahoe
RUBEN VIVES, ANITA CHABRIA and HAYLEY SMITH, LA Times: "While the Caldor fire continues to threaten South Lake Tahoe, it is also taking aim at Nevada, prompting new evacuation orders Tuesday afternoon.
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak on Monday declared a state of emergency “in the anticipation of the fire crossing from California into the state of Nevada in the coming days,” his office said.
“We are asking residents to say vigilant, pay attention to emergency phone alerts and have a plan in place for potential evacuations,” officials said."
This map shows the feared path of the Caldor Fire toward Heavenly Ski Resort
DANIELLE ECHEVERRIA, Chronicle: "With gusty winds expected until at least Wednesday night, firefighters worry that the Caldor Fire could continue its unrelenting push towards Heavenly Ski Resort, a popular destination for Tahoe tourists.
Maps show that the flames could be as close as four miles from parts of the resort. Time-lapse videos from wildfire cameras at Heavenly showed dark, hazy skies moving between shades of yellowish gray to deep orange, as though on a dimmer, as winds whipped through the trees on Tuesday afternoon.
Video captured by KCBS Radio on Tuesday showed the resort firing several of its water hydrants, blasting water across a portion of the resort. Susan Whitman, a spokesperson for Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood resorts told The Chronicle that resort officials pumped “significant water” onto the mountains."
State stimulus checks arrive in Californians’ bank accounts ahead of recall election
PAT McGREEVY, LA Times: "As California continues the slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down many businesses last year, new $600 state stimulus checks have begun arriving in the bank accounts of residents who earn up to $75,000 annually, to help them get back on their feet.
The first batch of about 600,000 payments totaling some $354 million was directly deposited Friday and the state will send out checks to other taxpayers every two weeks, according to Daniel Tahara, a spokesman for the state Franchise Tax Board.
Combined with a previous stimulus program to assist people who make up to $30,000 annually, the state expects to provide $11.8 billion to 15.2 million California households, reaching about two-thirds of the state’s taxpayers."
Californians are returning their recall ballots. Here’s who is voting so far
LARA KORTE, SacBee: "The recall election is barreling toward California voters. With less than two weeks to go until Sept. 14, nearly 3.5 million mail ballots have been returned.
Polls say Gov. Gavin Newsom has a slim lead over those who want to remove him, but nothing is certain until all the votes are counted.
Democratic ballots make up the majority of returns so far, according to ballot tracking from Political Data Inc."
California voters say COVID-19 is a big issue. Here's where recall election candidates stand
Sacramento Bee, ANDREW SHEELER: "It’s been nearly a year-and-a-half since Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a COVID-19 emergency in California. Virtually every aspect of California life has been impacted by the pandemic, from work to worship, recreation to education.
Now, with a recall election in full swing, California voters get to weigh in on Newsom’s job performance during the pandemic. Voters have until Sept. 14 to turn in their ballots.
The ballot asks voters two questions: Should Gov. Newsom be recalled from office and, if so, who should replace him as governor? There are 46 candidates lined up to take
the job, though one has since dropped out for health issues."
Lake Tahoe faces what could be the worst disaster in its history. What's at stake?
KEVIN FAGAN, Chronicle: "Even after 20 years of living at Lake Tahoe, it still takes Corey Rich’s breath away when he comes home. Rich is an adventure photographer, shooting at exotic locales all over the world, from the airless mountain peaks of Pakistan to the waterfalls of Chile. Doesn’t hold a candle to Tahoe, he says.
“Driving back into that basin and seeing that crystal blue water, that incredible granite, those beautiful trees, I can’t imagine living anywhere else,” he said. “There’s something magical about seeing an entire alpine basin blanketed — just a carpet of green, lush as far as you can see.
“It’s a Disneyland for adults. There is nowhere else like it.”
California Democrats have long counted on Latino voters. Will they stick with Newsom now?
Sacramento Bee, KIM BOJORQUEZ: "Maria Elena Sepulveda doesn’t know how she’ll vote in California’s upcoming gubernatorial recall election.
The Sacramento homemaker is certain of one thing: No gubernatorial candidate in the crowded race has done enough to earn the vote on people like her.
“I honestly haven’t decided if I’m going to vote one way or the other,” said Sepulveda, 39."
Firefighters defend Tahoe Basin's homes, beauty from Caldor Fire assault
SF Chronicle: "Firefighters battled the monstrous Caldor Fire on Tuesday, protecting alpine communities and shielding some of the country’s most beloved outdoor playgrounds in the Tahoe Basin.
Gusting winds roared through the region carrying embers that breached defense lines and threatened swaths of South Lake Tahoe, which completed an unprecedented citywide evacuation of its 22,000 residents Monday.
Fire officials said their strategy was to keep the fire on the north side of Highway 88, where new orders to evacuate were issued Tuesday evening."
Fake student bot accounts at California colleges tied to suspected COVID-19 relief scam
COLLEEN SHALBY and TERESA WATANABE, LA Times: "The California Community Colleges system is investigating potentially widespread fraud involving fake “bot students” enrolled in active courses in what officials suspect is a scam to obtain financial aid or COVID-19 relief grants.
The 116-campus system is beefing up internal reporting and security measures after finding that 20% of recent traffic on its main portal for online applications was “malicious and bot-related,” according to a memo issued Monday by Valerie Lundy-Wagner, interim vice chancellor of digital innovation and infrastructure.
Nearly 15% of that traffic was caught by new software called Imperva Advanced Bot Detection, which was installed last month, and the matter remained of “grave concern,” she said. The memo follows a previous warning that Lundy-Wagner issued in June."
New rent relief is on the way for L.A. tenants and landlords. Here’s how to apply
JON HEALY and MADALYN AMATO: "Oct. 1 is a crucial day for California residents who have fallen behind on their rent because of the pandemic. That’s when the state’s lengthy moratorium on evictions will start to expire, allowing landlords to seek the removal of tenants who have failed to pay what they owe.
Tenants will have to meet either of two conditions to avoid being tossed out:
1. Pay the new rent in full and cover at least 25% of the rent they haven’t paid since September 2020;
2. Be enrolled in a rental assistance program offered by the state or their local government."
California Democrats want to expand sanctuary state law, but police unions are pushing back
Sacramento Bee, HANNAH WILEY/KIM BOJORQUEZ: "California Democrats want to make more immigrants eligible for protection under the so-called sanctuary state law by closing exemptions that allow local law enforcement agencies to participate in the deportation of people accused of certain crimes.
Four years ago, the Legislature approved a law that limited when California authorities could help Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detain and transfer immigrants into federal custody. Former Gov. Jerry Brown signed the law amid the Trump administration’s tough talk on immigration enforcement.
The law does not apply to people convicted of 800 different crimes, meaning local police can still assist ICE in detaining and deporting certain people. The list of exempted crimes included both misdemeanors and felonies, some drug offenses, arson, registered sex offenses and domestic violence."
Sacramento city councilman feels powerless as Afghans call him begging for help
Sacramento Bee, THERESA CLIFT: "Sacramento City Councilman Sean Loloee didn’t sleep all last week.
The Iranian immigrant, whose phone number is circulating in Afghanistan, received 28 calls on a single night.
The calls are quick, with spotty service, but the Afghans all have terror in their shaking voices as they make the same desperate plea."
