CLOCK IN — “As hospitals reel, California tells coronavirus-positive medical workers to stay on the job,” by the LA Times’ Hayley Smith: “The policy, set to remain in place through Feb. 1, is designed to keep many healthcare workers on the job at a time when hospitals are expecting more patients.” — “Nurses, doctors sick. Ambulances, blood in short supply. Omicron hits L.A. healthcare hard,” by the LA Times’ Rong Gong Lin-II, Luke Money and Emily Alpert Reyes: “L.A. County has identified the 20 most hard-hit emergency rooms, and county employees have been dispatched to the top 10 — all privately run hospitals — to assist with offloading ambulances; the other eight are expected to receive federal help within the next two weeks, Ghaly said.” NEW RULES — “San Jose leaders approve new COVID-19 booster shot mandate,” by the Mercury News’ Maggie Angst and Summer Lin: “The City Council on Tuesday night also adopted a new ordinance requiring visitors of large, indoor events held at public facilities such as the SAP Center and San Jose Convention Center to show proof they received a booster shot — or at least submit a negative COVID-19 test — before entering.” BLOCKED — “Judge blocks new California law limiting vaccine site protests,” by the SF Chronice’s Bob Egelko: “A recent state law that prohibits protesters from coming within 30 feet of vaccination clinics to harass or obstruct those seeking to enter has been blocked by a federal magistrate, who said it violates free speech.” HERE WE GO AGAIN — “Oakland schools: Another ‘sickout’ set for Thursday in solidarity with students demanding COVID safety,” by the Mercury News’ Summer Lin: “Even as the students threaten to stay home next week, dozens of teachers and staff members are continuing a sickout to push for similar measures the students are seeking and in solidarity with the students.” REPORT CARD — “ 'Grim' outlook for California children's well-being, report finds,” by EdSource’s Carolyn Jones: “The expansion of transitional kindergarten was a bright spot in the report. California got an A- for its investment in transitional kindergarten for all 4-year-olds, but it needs to do more to ensure that all children have access to early childhood education, the report said.” HEAT WAVE — “ Gov. Newsom announces plan to deal with extreme heat,” by the LA Times’s Cindy Carcamo: “State officials, when asked why they hadn’t completed the proposals identified in 2013, cited lack of funding as part of the reason. The new recommendations are tied to $300 million in funding that was set aside during last year’s budget.” NO ON TOBACCO — “ Sacramento County bans flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and menthol,” by Cap Radio’s Sammy Caiola: “The county’s move comes months before Californians vote on a statewide initiative, which could uphold a previous ban signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2020.” HOUSING — “After a pandemic pause, Oakland ramped up homeless camp closures again. Why? ” by Oaklandside’s Natalie Orenstein: “In the spring of 2021, closures resumed in earnest. There were three scheduled in March 2021 and another three in April, with a big jump to 12 in May. Since then, planned closures have been consistent, ranging from six to 11 each month.” MURKY WATERS — “PG&E Liable for Potential San Francisco Waterfront Contamination,” by Bloomberg Law’s Maya Earls: “ PG&E may be held directly liable under the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act because its predecessor operated the plant and handled or transported waste, according to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.” SICK DAYS — “Will COVID sick leave return to California?” by CalMatters’ Sameea Kamal: “The supplemental leave – on top of the minimum three days of paid sick leave a year that all employees get – was funded last year by a federal tax credit equal to a worker’s paid time off, including any health care costs. That credit also expired Sept. 30. The state law didn’t contain a provision to reimburse businesses – and it’s not in Newsom’s proposed budget, or in his emergency $1.4 billion request for COVID response.” RINGER OFF — “ Remember COVID-19 phone alerts? California app ignores at-home tests, missing exposures,” by the Sac Bee’s Jason Pohl: “California officials chose not to include an at-home testing option out of concerns that people might erroneously input tests or distort the system.” WATER WORLD — “Wet Season Watch: Will California get out of drought this winter? ” by the SF Chronicle’s Yoohyun Jung and Kurtis Alexander: “State officials track the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada and the mountains of the far north by measuring its water content. This is considered the best metric for gauging how snow will boost water supplies.” CRIMINAL JUSTICE — “S.F. police chief slams D.A.’s office for dropping charges against suspect accused of assaulting officers,” by the SF Chronicle’s Andres Picon: “The charges were dropped after prosecutors found that there were inconsistencies in police officer statements and that Lugo was not breaking any laws when he was stopped by police, said Rachel Marshall, a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office.” — “New report reveals who gets stopped by the police in California,” by the LA Times’ Justin Ray: “A higher percentage of Black people were stopped for reasonable suspicion than any other racial identity group. People perceived to be Latino (40.4%), white (31.7%), or Black (16.5%) made up the vast majority of stopped individuals. The graph below shows a breakdown of these stops.” — “Kin of dead sex abuse victim sue under new California law,” by the AP’s Brian Melley: “Previously, survivors of plaintiffs who died in California could seek damages for economic losses such as wages or medical bills, but not for their loved ones’ so-called pain and suffering or disfigurement. California was one of few states not to allow those type of damages after death.” | 
