In CA: Roads made out of plastic bottles? Rogue cows? Just another day in the Golden State

Plus: The state's top public health advisor resigns, a heart-warming sibling reunion, a talented tumbler, and a swarm of temblors

With today's trip around the state, I'm Shad Powers, a columnist at The Desert Sun in Palm Springs. Let's dive into the good, the bad and heart-warming news around the Golden State.

But first, an utterly dramatic rescue. The California Highway Patrol rescued an elderly couple Sunday morning after they were injured in Lynch Canyon Regional Park in Solano County. The couple was chased by a cow who was with her calf and felt threatened by the people, authorities said. The couple fell and were hurt. A CHP helicopter responded and used its siren to prompt the cow, who was a few feet from the injured pair, to move away from them. The couple was then hoisted, one at a time, 75 feet up into the chopper and brought to a hospital. Everyone, both human and bovine, is going to be OK.

In California brings you top Golden State stories and commentary from across the Paste BN Network and beyond. Get it free, straight to your inbox.  

State's top public health official resigns

Just days after the state announced a fix for a glitch that caused a lag in reporting coronavirus test results used to make decisions about reopening businesses and schools. Dr. Sonia Angell said in a resignation letter made public late Sunday that she's departing from her role as director and state public health officer at the California Department of Public Health. Her letter did not give a specific reason for her departure.

Angell often appeared during news conferences about California's response to the pandemic alongside Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who had appointed her to the dual roles. Pushed to comment on Monday, Newsom said her departure was "appropriate."

Sandra Shewry, vice president of external engagement for the California Health Care Foundation, will fill the role of acting health director, the health and human services department said. Dr. Erica Pan, who was recently appointed state epidemiologist, will be the acting state public health officer.

Over the weekend, the state caught up on the 295,000 backlogged records, though the numbers have not yet been added to the public-facing data reports. 

A bottle for the road?  

A California company has devised a process that integrates recycled plastic into road repaving, an innovation that could revolutionize the industry while yielding environmental benefits. Sean Weaver, president of TechniSoil Industrial in the northern California city of Redding, says the polymer-infused roads churned out by the company’s pavement process are sturdier, flatter, safer and more durable than those made with regular asphalt.

More appealing to environmentalists, they incorporate 100% of the old asphalt – sparing the air from dozens of trips by trucks hauling away and bringing in building material – and provide a new market for plastic products that could otherwise wind up in a landfill.

Last week, the California Department of Transportation replaced three lanes of a 1,000-foot highway segment in the Butte County town of Oroville with the TechniSoil approach, the first time Caltrans had paved a road using all recycled materials. Los Angeles is also looking at the technology.

“We’re recycling what’s there, and we’re delivering a road that’s better than the original, at no higher cost than it would cost you to rehab that road the traditional way,’’ said Weaver.

San Quentin prison guard becomes first staffer to die from coronavirus outbreak

California correctional officials announced two deaths related to a massive coronavirus outbreak at San Quentin State Prison: The first prison guard to die of COVID-19 and a prisoner — the 25th inmate to die. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said Sgt. Gilbert Polanco, an Army veteran and guard at the facility since 1988, had succumbed to the virus. He had been hospitalized since July 3. In total, 261 workers at San Quentin have been infected with COVID-19.

Among the more than 98,000 men and women incarcerated in state prisons in California as of Sunday, 8,780 have tested positive for the virus, and 52 have died.

Despite restraining order, church holds Sunday services

Three Sunday services at a Newbury Park church went forward without intervention from Ventura County officials despite a temporary restraining order that barred the indoor gatherings because of coronavirus concerns. Pastor Rob McCoy led services inside Godspeak Calvary Chapel with pews filled to capacity, according to reports that trickled out during the 9 a.m. service.

In the parking lot outside, many out-of-area church supporters lined walkways around the building holding flags and signs. Almost no church members or supporters wore face masks. A few mask-wearing protesters holding signs clustered across the driveway.

On Friday, a Ventura County judge issued a temporary restraining order after county officials filed suit against McCoy and the church last week over the indoor services.

Canada wooing Silicon Valley's international talent with series of billboards

The billboards loom over Highway 101 from San Francisco to San Jose. Emblazoned with Canada’s red maple leaf emblem, they pose provocative questions: “What if my visa gets canceled? What if I lose my job and health insurance?” The point, said Iain Klugman, CEO of Canada’s Communitech, which sponsored the ad campaign, is to let Silicon Valley’s skilled workers from overseas know there’s a welcoming alternative for them north of the border. At a time when President Donald Trump has clamped down on H-1B visas — in June he froze them and other types of work visas until year-end — Canada is stressing that its doors are open to international workers.

Semi-weekly Disneyland update

With Disneyland in Anaheim still closed, Disney higher-ups are keeping an eye on Disney World in Florida to see how the now-opened park fares with both its coronavirus prevention measures and its ticket sales. There is no sign that Disneyland will open soon, but when it does it may have a leg up on its Floridian counterpart. Disneyland relies heavily on people driving from nearby cities like Los Angeles and San Diego, whereas the Florida version relies more on people taking flights and staying in hotels. That may explain why attendance is down in Florida, since air travel is difficult.  

10-year-old Yermo girl part of famous Nike ad

The athletic MiKenzie Adams, a 10-year-old from the Mojave Desert town of Yermo who has a prosthetic right leg, was invited to be part of a Nike commercial. In the spot, she's shown doing a round-off tumbling flip on a beach, and the image morphs into gymnastic superstar Simone Biles tumbling at the Olympics. The pint-sized talent said of gaining some fame for being in the "You Can't Stop Us" video with the likes of LeBron James and Serena Williams, "I'm an athlete and I don't want to be an actress." 

Swarm of earthquakes near Salton Sea

The Coachella Valley was hit by a series of earthquakes centered at the southern end of the Salton Sea on Monday morning. The largest of the nine earthquakes was a magnitude 4.6 temblor, which happened at 8:56 a.m. and was centered about 7.5 miles southeast of Bombay Beach, according to the United States Geological Survey. The area is near the San Andreas fault line, but not part of it. 

Reunited and it feels so good

Lamar and Connie are brother and sister who were separated when their mother died when they were 4 and 11 years old, respectively. That was 1946. Despite frequent attempts, they never found each other again. But that painful part of their life journey ended in June when some social media sleuthing allowed them to reconnect 74 years later. “We picked up right where we left off, in love,” said Lamar who now lives in Palm Springs. Read the heart-wrenching story of how they were separated and how they finally found each other ... and then grab a Kleenex to dab your eye like I did. 

Here's wishing Lamar, Connie, and all of you well. Until tomorrow, California lovers. 

In California is a roundup of news from across Paste BN Network newsrooms. Also contributing: The Associated Press and The Sacramento Bee.