Jacob’s Journal – Weekly News Rewind (09/13-09/19)

California First to Drop High COVID Transmission Status, Has Lowest Case Rate in U.S.

Wednesday, September 15 (Newsweek) – On Wednesday, a map by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed California as the only state below a high level of community COVID-19 transmission. Every other state was shown in red, meaning community transmission levels averaged 100 or more cases per 100,000 people over seven days. The CDC’s map showed California with an average of 97.8 new cases per 100,000 for the past week. This puts it in the agency’s “substantial” category (Puerto Rico was the only state or territory with this ranking, while Palau, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of Marshall Islands were “low”). Overall, CDC data shows the U.S. had a seven-day average of 295 cases per 100,000 and positivity rate of 9.49%. According to the California Department of Public Health, a total of 4,372,806 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the state and 68.5% of residents were fully vaccinated.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom Beats Back GOP-Led Recall

Wednesday, September 15 (AP News) – California Governor Gavin Newsom defeated a recall vote on Tuesday in a contest intended to remove him from office early. His quick victory was enabled by a healthy turnout. Newsom was quick to cast it as a win for how he’s handled the pandemic and liberal issues, saying “We said yes to science, we said yes to vaccines, we said yes to ending this pandemic,” as a response to the “no” vote being to reject the recall. With two-thirds of the ballots counted, “no” responses led by a 30-point margin, mainly from votes cast by mail.

Had the recall succeeded, many believe Republican talk radio host Larry Elder would have replaced Newsom (he was one of 46 names on the replacement ballot, including former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner). As for the recall election being a political barometer, Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly 2-to-1 in California, so its impact on upcoming governor’s and Congressional elections is not known. Newsom is the second governor in U.S. history to defeat a recall. His victory maintains Newsom’s position as a potential White House contender, which has been the case since at least 2004.

A California Couple Died of Covid-19 Weeks Apart, Orphaning 5 Young Children Including a Newborn

Monday, September 13 (CNN) – After 18 months of being cautious about COVID-19, Davy Macias, 37, a labor and delivery nurse, and Daniel Macias, 38, a middle school math teacher, died less than two weeks apart (on August 26 and September 9, respectively). Davy was hospitalized in early August and seven months pregnant with her fifth child, which was delivered early by Cesarean section. The grandmother of the children, Terry Macias, believes her son and daughter-in-law contracted the coronavirus after a family trip to an indoor water park, and was responsible for telling her grandchildren about their parent’s death. The couple had sold their home before the pandemic and was living with Terry Macias ever since.

3 Children, Mother Hospitalized After Being Ejected from Vehicle During Rollover Crash

Wednesday, September 15 (KGET) – According to the California Highway Patrol, a mother and her three children (between two and four years old) were hospitalized following a rollover crash on Highway 99 in which they were ejected from an SUV. The crash occurred on the southbound side of the highway near Kimberlina Road, at about 12:15 p.m. It was caused by a tire separation, the CHP said, and the occupants were not wearing safety restraints. In response to the accident, CHP Public Information Officer Robert Rodriguez stressed the importance of securing children in vehicles.

California Supreme Court Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar Stepping Down to Join Think Tank

Thursday, September 16 (MSN.com) – On Thursday, California Supreme Court Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, 49, said he will step down from his position to run a foreign-policy think tank. Cuéllar will head the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in a position held by William J. Burns, who was selected by President Biden to head the CIA. He plans to open a West Coast office in Silicon Valley. Meanwhile, Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to choose a Mexican immigrant to replace Cuéllar, a scholar and faculty member at Stanford University. The decision comes as Cuéllar’s wife, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh, is set to begin confirmation hearings for the U.S. 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals. A number of possible successors to Cuéllar have been mentioned. Newsom currently has one appointee on the court; Justice Martin Jenkins, the fifth Democratic member, is the first openly gay member of the state’s highest court.

Inebriated Woman Crashes Into Husband’s Car While Picking Him Up From His Own Drunk Accident

Wednesday, September 15 (Complex.com) – A husband and wife were arrested on Monday after both were involved in car crashes, according to the Indiana State Police. As reported to WEHT by authorities, Donald Ricketts, 56, of Poseyville, struck a tractor-trailer heading south on SR 165; Rickets was heading north at the time. No injuries were caused by the crash. Ricketts allegedly called his wife, Cheral Ricketts, who was close by at their home, to pick him up. She then drove to the site and crashed her own car into her husband’s.

Police administered breathalyzer tests to both when they arrived, suspecting both were intoxicated; Cheral had a preliminary blood-alcohol reading of .22 percent, while her husband had a BAC of .28%. She was arrested and taken to the Posey County Jail and Donald was taken to Deaconess Gibson Hospital for a non-life-threatening medical issue. In California, a weird car accident also occurred in August, when a 31-year-old-man was detained by police after crashing his car near the Marketplace at El Paseo, hitting two other cars. He had reportedly been pleasuring himself while riding around Fresno when the crash occured. A Fresno County sheriff’s deputy later found him dining at a nearby restaurant after he walked away from the scene.

California Democrats Vow to Change ‘Weaponized’ Recall System

Thursday, September 16 (The Guardian) – California has one of the lowest thresholds in the nation for the number of signatures needed to trigger a recall election. Soon after Governor Gavin Newsom won the votes needed to defeat the recall this week, state Democrats vowed to reform the recall system. Possible changes could include increasing the number of signatures needed to force a recall election and a requirement for the officeholder to be accused of wrongdoing. In a statement the day after his victory, Newsom said he believes the process has been weaponized.

The current rules affect governors and school boards, city councils, district attorneys, and others. Newsom’s recall, which was triggered by just 12% of the electorate that voted for him in 2018, contrasts vastly with states like Kansas, which requires 40% of voters to provide signatures. Newsom did not say what changes to the process he favors, while other Democrats have been more specific. The California legislature’s two leaders both back changes to the system, but the final decision is in the hands of voters.

Is This the End of the Road for DeMarcus Cousins in the NBA?

Thursday, September 16 (Fansided) – Four years after being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, playing alongside Anthony Davis, who is now with the Los Angeles Lakers, DeMarcus Cousins remains without a contract. Cousins experienced several injuries over the last four seasons. There’s no guarantee he’s going to be in the NBA this season, although with the L.A. Clippers last year, he averaged eight points and five rebounds on 54% shooting from the field and 42% shooting from 3-point range. Cousins, 31, is thought to be at a crossroads in his career. While he’s left his mark on the league, it may be a big “what if” to look back on his career and many followers would like to see a fully evolved version of Cousins in the NBA.

Carmelo Anthony Wasn’t Expecting Lakers to Have Interest In Free Agency But Came To L.A. With Desire to Win

Thursday, September 16 (Lakers Nation) – The Los Angeles Lakers finally have Carmelo Anthony on their side. He will reprise his bench role after spending the past couple of seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. Anthony’s ability to shoot from the outside shows he should be leaned on most nights. He has expressed a desire to win the NBA Championship, but seemed OK retiring without a title under his name. But now that he’s with the Lakers, he seems ready to work for it as the team emerges from last year’s disappointing finish.