In California: Fires burn an area the size of Rhode Island, force 120,000 from homes, kill 6
It's another scorcher across the Golden State, but it's never too hot to bring you the latest goings-on in California. I'm Winston Gieseke, an editor at The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, and here's a little bit of what's happening in our neck of the woods.
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.
Blazes burn an area bigger than Rhode Island
Help wanted: With nearly 600 active wildfires raging across 771,000 California acres (an area larger than the state of Rhode Island), Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday that officials have requested resources from other states and countries, including Canada and Australia.
In Northern California, the LNU Lightning Complex fires, which began in Napa and Sonoma counties, have traveled into Solano, Lake and Yolo counties, burning more than 200 square miles.
With more than 12,000 personnel fighting the fires and 96% of Cal Fire engines in use, officials say the state lacks sufficient resources to continue on its own and has requested 375 engines and crew from other states.
More than 119,000 people have been evacuated throughout the state. At least six people have died, and 33 have been injured. Track the blazes through this real-time interactive map.
“If you are in denial about climate change, come to California,” Newsom said via video at the Democratic National Convention Thursday night.
Blame games: President Trump says the state of California is to blame for the willdfires: "Maybe we're just going to have to make them pay," he said during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania.
Clever idea: With no water or electricity, a Vacaville man put out a fire on his property using a 36-pack of Bud Light. I'm pleased to report that it hit the spot.
Thoughts and prayers from above: NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy captured devastating images of the fires from his perch on the International Space Station.
‘We can't stay shut down forever’
Riverside County, east of Los Angeles, is the fourth most populous county in the state, with 2.5 million people — that's more than New Mexico. It also has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases (nearly 50,000) and deaths (more than 925) of any California county besides Los Angeles. Nevertheless, the county has sent the California Department of Public Health a proposal regarding the reopening of businesses.
The ambitious proposal requests that businesses be allowed to resume operations according to the following schedule:
- Sept. 8: dine-in restaurants, wineries and breweries, churches, non-essential indoor offices as well as salons and other personal care services.
- Sept. 22: indoor activities such as wedding receptions, group meetings and indoor shopping malls
- Oct. 6: gyms, movie theaters and bars
But not everyone's backing the county plan unconditionally. Coachella Valley mayors met Thursday to talk about a proposal, and V. Manuel Perez, a member of the county Board of Supervisors said: "I am not entirely on board yet to reopen until we have specific measures in place and have the support of the state of California as well.”
Also not completely sold was Palm Springs Mayor Geoff Kors, who thinks the plan needs a stronger program in place for tracking COVID-19 outbreaks. He cited California's previous plan for reopening, in May, which he believes led to a spike in infections.
John Aguilar, mayor of the neighboring town of Cathedral City, said: "It seems quite clear that the effort to reopen is not based on relevant science or health data but rather a rush to 'open our economy' before there are adequate protocols and measures in place to deal with adequate testing, contact tracing, surges, et cetera."
But Mayor Linda Evans of La Quinta had a different take: “There’s no reason why everything can’t be open if you’re washing your hands, covering your face and maintaining your space," Evans said. “It’s that balance between recognizing we can’t stay shut down forever.”
No word back from the state, yet.
California has a serious unemployment issue
Work it out: Despite adding 140,000 jobs in July, unemployment in California is still higher than it was during than Great Recession. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, California lost 2.4 million payroll jobs in April.
Golden State Killer sentenced
One of California's most prolific bad guys, Joseph DeAngelo, 74, also known as the Golden State Killer (and the Visalia Ransacker, the Original Nightstalker and the East Area Rapist) was sentenced Friday to life without parole for 26 rapes and murders committed throughout the state in the 1970s and '80s.
DeAngelo, the subject of the fascinating book and documentary "I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer," apologized to his surviving victims and his victims' survivors, saying, "I'm truly sorry to everyone I've hurt."
Also facing a gavel Friday were actress Lori Loughlin (also known as Aunt Becky on "Full House") and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, who were sentenced for their role in the college admissions scandal. Loughlin was sentenced to two months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release, during which she will be required to perform 100 hours of community service. She was also ordered to pay a fine of $150,000. Giannulli was sentenced to five months in prison, two years of supervised release, 250 hours of community service and a $250,000 fine.
And a few bits of easily digestible, bite-sized news:
Nutria, be gone: California is at war with the state's swamp rat population ... but who's winning?
Grab some tissues: Walt Disney's "Bambi," which was made in California, was released on this day in 1942.
I wish you a very safe weekend.
In California is a roundup of news from across Paste BN Network newsrooms. Also contributing: CNN, SFGate, Space.com and Today in Conservation.