California

The campaign flier sent to Vietnamese-American voters in Orange County is heavily doctored and designed to inflame. A Democratic congressional candidate is photoshopped in front of a classroom of children, a copy of “The Communist Manifesto” in hand. On the wall hang images of communist icons Mao Zedong, Vladimir Lenin and Ho Chi Minh. (Bernie Sanders, who calls himself a Democratic Socialist, is up there, too.) A single fist in the Black power salute teaches students the number one. Two is symbolized by hands holding a hammer and sickle. “Jay Chen invited China into our children’s classes” is written in Vietnamese on the chalkboard. Advertisement The flier, crafted and funded by GOP Rep. Michelle Steel, would be effective in much of the country. But it has the potential to be particularly powerful in Steel’s Orange County-centered district. She is running for reelection in the new 45th congressional district, which has an Asian-American plurality. The district is home … [Read more...] about ‘Red-baiting’ fliers mailed to Vietnamese Americans in tight California congressional race

UPDATE : Here are the latest updates on COVID in the Bay Area and California . With omicron subvariants making it more difficult to test for a positive coronavirus infection, the FDA recommended performing multiple tests after an initial negative result. San Francisco and New York City have diverged in striking ways when it comes to their respective recoveries form the worst of the pandemic. Latest updates: UCSF’s Wachter says new CDC guidelines are “sensible” Bob Wachter, UCSF’s chair of medicine and a prominent voice on the COVID-19 pandemic, weighed in on the updated COVID-19 guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday afternoon. His atypically brief summary came much later than most of his colleagues on Twitter offered their reactions — and was condensed into just one tweet. Wachter said the new advice was a “sensible effort to consider public attitudes.” The relaxed rules drop the recommendation that Americans … [Read more...] about COVID in California: UCSF’s Wachter says relaxed CDC guidelines are ‘sensible’

Californians have little appetite for a rematch of the 2020 presidential race, according to a new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll, with strong majorities of the state’s voters hoping neither President Biden nor former President Trump runs again in two years. The poll, co-sponsored by The Times, found that roughly 6 in 10 respondents are against Biden trying for a second term in 2024 — a striking reluctance in a solidly Democratic state that he won handily. Another Trump campaign would be even less popular, with more than 70% in opposition. Vice President Kamala Harris, widely considered Biden’s chosen successor to lead the party, also struggles to find traction in California, her home state, lagging behind Gov. Gavin Newsom and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont as voters’ choice for president if Biden does not run. But no candidate emerges as the consensus favorite for the Democratic nomination in this early gauge of potential 2024 contenders. … [Read more...] about California voters favor Newsom over Harris, don’t want Biden to run again, poll finds

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Thursday extending paid supplemental COVID-19 sick leave through the end of the year. The bill requires California companies with 26 or more employees to continue providing up to 80 hours of additional paid sick leave to employees unable to work because of COVID. It also covers sick leave for workers taking time off to care for infected family members. Existing COVID sick-pay mandates were set to expire Friday. Small businesses and nonprofits will remain eligible for grants up to $50,000 to help defray the cost of providing the supplemental paid sick leave. Labor leaders cheered the extension, calling the bill a boon to workers who might otherwise face tough choices were they to become infected. State law only requires a minimum of three days of paid sick leave. “For three years, essential frontline workers have been placed in situations … [Read more...] about California COVID pay: Newsom signs bill extending paid COVID sick leave through 2022

California Gov. Gavin Newsom will soon decide whether to create a council to set minimum standards for wages, hours and working conditions for workers at fast-food franchises, a measure that has pitted business and labor groups against each other. Lawmakers voted to send the measure to Newsom on Monday. The measure passed with the bare minimum number of votes needed in the Assembly and the Senate. The bill has been a priority of labor unions, which argue it is needed to address high rates of wage theft, retaliation for workers trying to organize and health and safety violations in the fast-food industry. It is also backed by Fight for $15, a group that advocates for raising the minimum wage for all workers. Opponents of the measure, including the California Restaurant Association, the International Franchise Association and the California Chamber of Commerce, argue the bill would raise prices for fast-food restaurants and that it unfairly singles them out for additional … [Read more...] about Bill that aims to raise wages for fast-food workers heads to California Gov. Gavin Newsom

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Doctors who spread coronavirus lies could be disciplined for unprofessional conduct in California under a law signed Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The bill, AB2098, introduced by Democratic Assembly Member Evan Low, declares that a physician or surgeon commits professional misconduct if they disseminate “misinformation or disinformation" about the nature and risks of COVID-19, its prevention and treatment and the development, safety and effectiveness of vaccines. A doctor who commits such conduct could face discipline by the state medical board or osteopathic medical board and in severe cases, could potentially lose their license to practice in California. It was the last remaining vaccine-related bill of note after the more controversial measures didn't pass. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2018, more than 95,000 Californians have died, according to figures from the state Department of Public Health. More than 80% of the population has been … [Read more...] about California: Docs may be disciplined for spreading COVID lies

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 6 SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A woman who prosecutors dubbed a “black widow” because she had her husband killed, died of natural causes while serving a life sentence, authorities said Friday. Susan Russo, who was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy in the 1994 slaying of 43-year-old David Russo, died Thursday, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said. Russo, 67, was serving her sentence at the Central California Women's Facility prison in Madera County. She had been receiving medical treatment at a local medical facility since Aug. 16, the department said. It didn't say what Russo was being treated for. The Fresno County Sheriff's Office will determine her cause of death, it said. Russo arranged to pay her boyfriend $100 to kill her husband, who was a U.S. Navy chief petty officer serving at Lemoore Naval Air Station south of … [Read more...] about Woman dubbed ‘black widow’ dies in California prison

A magnitude 3.4 earthquake was reported at 4:50 a.m. Friday nine miles from Palm Springs, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The earthquake occurred 14 miles from Palm Desert, 14 miles from La Quinta, 16 miles from Rancho Mirage and 19 miles from Cathedral City. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 5.5 miles. In the past 10 days, there have been two earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby. Advertisement An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three year data sample. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS. Are you ready for when the Big One hits? Get ready for the next big earthquake by signing up for our Unshaken newsletter , which breaks down emergency preparedness into bite-sized steps over six weeks. Learn more about earthquake kits, which apps you need, Lucy Jones’ most important advice and more at … [Read more...] about Magnitude 3.4 earthquake reported near Palm Springs

A former Dallas Cowboys tight end and another rock climber died after they fell a "significant height" on a Southern California mountain, officials said Thursday. Gavin Escobar, 31, and Chelsea Walsh, 33, fell Wednesday at Tahquitz Rock, a popular climbing destination 110 miles southeast of Los Angeles, Riverside County Sheriff's Sgt. Brandy Swan said. The cause of death was not listed in coroner's records. Swan said their deaths appeared to be a "complete accident." Despite recent rain, she said it did not appear that weather played a part. A spokesman for the Long Beach Fire Department, where Escobar began working this year, confirmed his death Thursday at Tahquitz Rock. Escobar had been assigned to a station north of downtown Long Beach, the fire department said in a statement. "Prior to being a Long Beach Firefighter, Gavin Escobar played professional football for the NFL, where he spent most of his time with the Dallas Cowboys," it said on Twitter . "Firefighter … [Read more...] about Ex-Dallas Cowboys tight end among 2 rock climbers found dead in California

In a big win for creative expression, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed The Decriminalizing Artistic Expression Act, which restricts the use of rap lyrics as evidence in court in California. In August, the Calif. Senate and Assembly unanimously approved the bill, AB 2799. Speaking to the importance of the legislation at a virtual bill signing ceremony were rap artists Killer Mike, Meek Mill, Too $hort, Ty Dolla $ign, YG, E-40 and Tyga, as well as CEO of the Recording Academy Harvey Mason Jr. Leaders from the Black Music Action Coalition and Songwriters of North America also joined the signing ceremony. In a press release, the Black Music Action Coalition called the bill a “crucial step in the right direction” of not injecting racial bias into court proceedings, especially given the recent indictment of Young Thug and Gunna, whose lyrics were directly quoted and used against them in an ongoing RICO trial. “For too long, prosecutors in California have used rap lyrics as a convenient … [Read more...] about California restricts use of rap lyrics in criminal trials after Gov. Newsom signs bill