Plus: Californians might face tax penalty for not having insurance coverage throughout pandemic and California Supreme Court docket delays jail releases from San Quentin
Winston Gieseke right here, philanthropy and particular sections editor for The Desert Solar in Palm Springs, on the penultimate day of this loopy 12 months. I do not learn about you, however I am hoping for good issues in 2021. Within the meantime, here is what’s taking place on this nice state of ours.
In California brings you prime Golden State tales and commentary from throughout the USA TODAY Community and past. Get it free, straight to your inbox.
Extra contagious COVID-19 variant present in San Diego
The Golden State has reported its first case of a extra contagious COVID-19 variant first recognized in the UK. It is the second confirmed case in the US after Colorado, which reported the variant’s first U.S. case on Tuesday.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, talking remotely with the nation’s main infectious illness knowledgeable, Dr. Anthony Fauci, confirmed the case Wednesday afternoon. “We seemingly will probably be seeing studies from extra states,” Fauci mentioned. “That is one thing that is anticipated.”
San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher mentioned a 30-year-old man in the county with no journey historical past examined optimistic for the brand new pressure on Tuesday.
“As a result of there isn’t any journey historical past, we imagine this isn’t an remoted case in San Diego County,” Fletcher mentioned. He urged residents to remain at dwelling for New 12 months’s celebrations, citing the area’s already strained healthcare system.
Scientists in the UK mentioned the pressure, B.1.1.7, is extra contagious than earlier strains however no more extreme. The pressure, which, in response to fashions, has an elevated transmission charge of 70% in contrast with different variants within the U.Okay., was first noticed in September in southeastern England. By the week of Dec. 9, the pressure was answerable for 60% of circumstances within the metropolis.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, mutates often and acquires about one new mutation in its genome each two weeks, in response to the Facilities for Illness Management. The brand new variant has been recognized in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore, India, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. Researchers imagine present COVID-19 vaccines will seemingly shield in opposition to the brand new variant, however knowledge is required.
Newsom proposes $2 billion to reopen Okay-2 lecture rooms in February
Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed concern Wednesday that whereas most of California’s college students are at the moment studying just about, not all college students “are studying equally.”
“As a father of 4, I do know firsthand what dad and mom, educators and pediatricians proceed to say: In-person is the most effective setting to fulfill not solely the training wants, however the psychological well being and social-emotional wants of our youngsters,” the governor mentioned through assertion.
As an answer, he proposed allocating $2 billion in state funds to reopen California’s kindergarten by means of second grade lecture rooms for in-person instruction, starting in February.
As well as, in-person lecture rooms would open for different college students who’re disproportionately impacted by distance studying, equivalent to particular training college students, kids in foster care, kids experiencing homelessness and college students who want additional help.
The proposed funds, which work out to roughly $450 per pupil, would go towards elevated COVID-19 testing, private protecting gear for employees and college students, contact tracing to trace circumstances inside colleges and vaccinations for academics and workers.
Union: ‘Most’ Hollywood productions to remain on hiatus after COVID surge
Leaders of the Display Actors Guild-American Federation of Tv and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) have launched a letter saying “most leisure productions will stay on hiatus till the second or third week of January, if not later” as Los Angeles offers with an amazing spike in coronavirus circumstances.
As reported by nbcnews.com, the announcement got here a day after the L.A. County Division of Public Well being requested that the movie and tv trade rethink filming at the moment. “Though music, TV and movie productions are allowed to function,” the division mentioned, “we ask you to strongly take into account pausing work for a number of weeks throughout this catastrophic surge in COVID circumstances. Establish and delay larger threat actions, and concentrate on lower-risk work for now, if in any respect doable.”
Californians might face tax penalty for not having insurance coverage throughout pandemic
Some California residents who misplaced a job — and their medical insurance — through the coronavirus pandemic might face monetary penalties once they file their taxes subsequent 12 months.
The Particular person Shared Duty Penalty fines folks for not having a medical insurance plan if they do not qualify for sure exemptions. The penalty is in impact for the primary time in 2020 after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Invoice 78 final summer time, which requires Californians to have medical insurance and gives for some state subsidies to assist folks offset the price of protection.
A penalty for an uninsured household of three incomes $150,000 may very well be about $2,522, in response to the California Franchise Tax Board web site. A person who earns $46,000 may very well be charged $750.
Exceptions embrace folks whose lack of protection is for 3 steady months or much less. There’s additionally an “affordability exemption” for individuals who can be spending greater than 8.24% of their revenue on the most cost effective accessible Coated California plan. Additionally exempt are those that qualify for Medi-Cal and people whose revenue doesn’t require submitting a tax return.
Wish to learn how a lot you could owe? Go to the state franchise tax board’s on-line device.
These new California visitors legal guidelines take impact in 2021
When you’re one of many estimated 26 million licensed drivers in California, you may wish to brush up on the state’s new visitors legal guidelines going into impact in 2021.
For instance, drivers will now be required to decelerate or change lanes when approaching stationary emergency autos with emergency lights — for instance, a tow truck or a Caltrans automobile — on native streets and roads. Thus far, such slowing was solely required on freeways. As well as, good Samaritans is not going to be held answerable for damaging autos with a purpose to take away unattended kids age 6 or youthful. These modifications go into impact Jan. 1
Starting July 1, if you happen to’re caught greater than as soon as inside 36 months driving whereas utilizing a cellphone “in a handheld method,” a degree will probably be added to your driving file. Meaning no texting whereas driving or speaking whereas driving, except you are utilizing a hands-free gadget. These youthful than 18 can’t use any gadgets whereas driving.
Additionally starting Jan. 1, eligible disabled veterans might confirm eligibility for particular or distinguishing license plates or a disabled particular person parking placard in the event that they current certification from the California Division of Veterans Affairs or a county veterans companies officer. (Beforehand, the DMV solely accepted certification from the U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs within the absence of a medical certificates.)
California Supreme Court docket delays jail releases from San Quentin
In October, after COVID-19 devastated the jail inhabitants of San Quentin, a California appeals court docket ordered that the correctional facility, positioned outdoors of San Francisco, launch or switch not less than half of its 2,900 inmates.
The First District Court docket of Enchantment in San Francisco mentioned within the Oct. 21 resolution that state officers had acted with “deliberate indifference” to the well being of their inmates. On the time, 75% of the jail inhabitants had examined optimistic for coronavirus and 28 had died.
However after requests from jail officers to overturn the ruling, the San Francisco Chronicle studies that the state Supreme Court docket has put the order on maintain, saying the decrease court docket ought to have heard testimony from jail officers, inmates or medical consultants earlier than ruling on the matter.
“It seems that there are important disputes in regards to the efficacy of the measures officers have already taken to abate the chance of significant hurt to … prisoners, in addition to the suitable well being and security measures they need to take,” the court docket mentioned in a unanimous order Dec. 23.
The appellate panel has requested opposing sides to submit written arguments by Jan. 22 to assist decide whether or not to order a listening to on the proof, which may very well be performed by a Superior Court docket decide.
Farewell, Mary Ann
And lastly, it’s with a heavy coronary heart that we are saying goodbye to “Gilligan’s Island” star Daybreak Wells, who charmed tv audiences within the 1960s and past as healthful castaway Mary Ann. Wells died Wednesday in Los Angeles from COVID-19 issues. In response to her consultant, the actress, 82, “handed peacefully … in no ache.”
“I’ll all the time keep in mind her kindness to me,” mentioned “Gilligan” castmate Tina Louise, who performed Ginger, in a press release. “We shared in making a cultural landmark that has continued to convey consolation and smiles to folks throughout this troublesome time. I hope that individuals will keep in mind her the way in which that I do — all the time with a smile on her face.”
That is all, of us. Wishing everybody a secure and knowledgeable New 12 months’s Eve. In California will pause for New 12 months’s Eve and New 12 months’s Day and be again in your inbox on Monday, Jan. 4.
In California is a roundup of stories from throughout USA In the present day community newsrooms. Additionally contributing: nbcnews.com and San Francisco Chronicle.
Because the philanthropy and particular sections editor at The Desert Solar, Winston Gieseke writes about nonprofits, fundraising and individuals who give again within the Coachella Valley. Attain him at winston.gieseke@desertsun.com.
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