ReportWire

Tag: California

  • Police: Oakland high school shooting wounds 6 adults

    Police: Oakland high school shooting wounds 6 adults

    OAKLAND, Calif. — At least six adults were wounded in a shooting at a school campus in Oakland on Wednesday, with at least some of the victims found inside the school, authorities said.

    The shooting took place around 12:45 p.m. at Rudsdale Newcomer High School, authorities said. The school serves recent immigrants ages 16-21 who have fled violence and instability in their home countries, according to the school’s website. It is one of four adjacent schools located on a block in east Oakland.

    Officials have not said whether any of the victims might be students age 18 or older.

    “The victims were affiliated with the school, and we are determining the affiliation at this time,” Oakland Assistant Police Chief Darren Allison said, although he declined to say whether any students or teachers were involved.

    Allison said police were seeking at least one suspect but did not have anyone in custody.

    Three of the wounded were taken to Highland Hospital in Oakland, while the other three were taken to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley. Allison said three people remained hospitalized Wednesday evening, two of them with life-threatening injuries, while one person had been released and two others were expected to be released soon.

    John Sasaki, a spokesperson for Oakland Unified School District, said in a statement that district officials “do not have any information beyond what Oakland Police are reporting.” He said counselors were being made available for students and he could not say whether the schools at the site would be open Thursday.

    Television footage showed dozens of police cars and yellow tape on the street outside the school and students leaving nearby campuses.

    City Council Member Treva Reid said investigators told her the shooting may be tied to rising “group and gang violence.”

    James Jackson, chief executive of Alameda Health System, also noted an increase in violence.

    “We’ve seen almost a doubling of the violent crimes victims that we’re seeing here at our facility (Highland Hospital). So something has changed,” Jackson said.

    City Council Member Loren Taylor, who was outside the school, declined to confirm any details about the incident, telling KTVU-TV, “Guns were on our school campuses where our babies were supposed to be protected.”

    ———

    This story has been corrected to show that The Associated Press, quoting Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, erroneously identified the location of the shooting. It was at Rudsdale Newcomer High School, not Sojourner Truth Independent Study school.

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  • Six people were injured near an Oakland, California school campus | CNN

    Six people were injured near an Oakland, California school campus | CNN



    CNN
     — 

    Six people were injured in a Wednesday shooting at an East Oakland, California, school campus, authorities told CNN.

    All six victims had apparent gunshot wounds, Oakland Police Lt. Casey Johnson told reporters at the scene. Three of the victims were transported to Highland Hospital and were in critical condition, Chief Administrative Officer Mark Brown told CNN affiliate KGO. Hospital spokesperson Eleanor Ajala could not provide any details on those victims’ ages or injuries.

    The other three victims were taken to Eden Medical Center, said a hospital spokesperson who also could not share the victims’ ages or conditions.

    No suspect was in custody Wednesday afternoon, police spokesperson Paul Chambers told CNN. Officers were preparing to conduct a “methodical” search of the school looking for additional evidence, Chambers said. Authorities do not yet know if the shooting was a random incident or targeted among people who knew each other, Chambers said.

    The Oakland Unified School District said in a Wednesday statement there was an incident at “the King Estate campus on Fontaine Street, which houses the co-located Rudsdale Continuation and Newcomer high schools, BayTech Charter School, and the headquarters of Sojourner Truth Independent Study.”

    “The campus is near Oakland Academy of Knowledge (OAK), but it is important to note the incident was NOT at OAK, nor did it have anything to do with that elementary school,” the statement said.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was also responding to the scene, the agency said Wednesday afternoon.

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  • Teen had been staying with father before mother’s slaying

    Teen had been staying with father before mother’s slaying

    LOS ANGELES — A Southern California man who was accused of killing his estranged wife and abducting their 15-year-old daughter had been living with the teenager out of his pickup truck and hotels for weeks before the violence, authorities said Wednesday.

    Anthony John Graziano and his daughter, Savannah Graziano, were killed Tuesday in a shootout with law enforcement on a highway in the high desert after a 45-mile (72-kilometer) chase. The girl, wearing a tactical helmet and vest, ran toward deputies amid a hail of gunfire. Authorities are investigating whether she was shot by deputies or her father, or both.

    While many questions remain regarding Tuesday’s gunbattle, police in Fontana — where Graziano’s wife, 45-year-old Tracy Martinez, was killed Monday — offered some details about the family’s life before the bloodshed erupted this week.

    Graziano, 45, had moved out of the family’s home a month or two before the mother’s killing, as the couple went through a divorce, Fontana Sgt. Christian Surgent told The Associated Press. Savannah Graziano left with her father, while her younger brother stayed with their mother.

    Police issued an Amber Alert after Martinez’s killing, saying Savannah Graziano had been abducted by her father. Now, detectives are trying to determine whether or not she was coerced into leaving Fontana.

    “Did she go willingly?” Surgent said. “Or was she actually abducted? We haven’t been able to prove that just yet.”

    Fontana police had not received any reports of domestic violence at the home before the slaying, Surgent said, and child services had not been involved with the family. Neither parent was on probation or parole at the time and investigators believe Savannah was being home-schooled while she lived with her father, whom police said liked to camp out in the desert and mountains in his pickup truck.

    On Monday, witnesses saw Martinez walking in Fontana when Graziano picked her up in his truck. Surgent said it was not clear whether she was forced into the vehicle or got in on her own.

    “And immediately that’s when they started arguing and yelling and domestic violence was occurring,” he said.

    Martinez got out of the truck — potentially to escape — and Graziano opened fire on her with a handgun, striking her multiple times, Surgent said. The shooting on the street near an elementary school during morning drop-off forced students and parents to duck for cover.

    Graziano fled the scene and drove to get Savannah, who had been somewhere else at the time — likely wherever they had been staying that day, Surgent said. The son was at the family’s home at the time and was not involved.

    The next day, a 911 caller reported seeing the suspect’s Nissan Frontier around Barstow, nearly 70 miles (112 kilometers) north of Fontana.

    San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies located the pickup truck and chased it on the highway for around 45 miles (70 kilometers) to Hesperia. Throughout the pursuit, Graziano — and possibly his daughter as well — was “constantly shooting back at the deputies” with a rifle through the truck’s rear window, San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said Tuesday during a news conference.

    A firefight in Hesperia ensued, with dozens of bullets flying. Savannah ran toward deputies — who did not realize it was her — in the chaos and went down amid the gunfire. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly before noon.

    Her father was found in the driver’s seat and pronounced dead at the scene.

    The Sheriff’s Department declined to release any additional information Wednesday.

    In Fontana, mourners contributed flowers, balloons and candles to a small memorial.

    ——

    Associated Press News Researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed.

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  • US spy satellite launched into orbit from California

    US spy satellite launched into orbit from California

    VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — A classified satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office launched into orbit aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Heavy rocket on Saturday.

    The NROL-91 spy satellite lifted off at 3:25 p.m. from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California’s Santa Barbara County.

    It was the last launch of a Delta 4 from the West Coast. Additional launches are planned from Florida before the Deltas are replaced by ULA’s next-generation Vulcan Centaur rockets.

    The Delta IV Heavy configuration first launched in December 2004. This was the 387th flight of a Delta rocket since 1960 and the 95th and final launch from Vandenberg.

    The National Reconnaissance Office is the government agency in charge of developing, building, launching and maintaining U.S. spy satellites that provide intelligence data to policymakers, the intelligence community and Defense Department.

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  • California sues Amazon, alleging its dominance pushes up prices

    California sues Amazon, alleging its dominance pushes up prices

    California is suing Amazon, accusing the company of violating the state’s antitrust and unfair competition laws by allegedly stifling competition and forcing sellers to maintain higher prices on their products on other sites.

    In the lawsuit, filed Wednesday in San Francisco Superior Court, California Attorney General Rob Bonta claims that Amazon uses contract provisions to effectively bar third-party sellers and wholesale suppliers from offering lower prices for products on non-Amazon sites, including on their own websites. That, in turn, harms the ability of other retailers to compete, according to the complaint. 

    “Without basic price competition, without different online sites trying to outdo each other with lower prices, prices artificially stabilize at levels higher than would be the case in a competitive market,” the complaint states. 

    According to the suit, merchants who don’t follow Amazon’s pricing policy could have their products stripped from prominent listings on Amazon and face other sanctions, such as suspensions or terminations of their accounts. The suit seeks to stop Amazon from entering into contracts with sellers that harm price competition, as well as a court order to compel Amazon to pay damages to the state for increased prices. State officials did not say how much money they are seeking.

    The 84-page lawsuit mirrors another complaint filed last year by the District of Columbia, which was dismissed by a district judge earlier this year and is now going through an appeals process.

    But officials in California believe they won’t encounter a similar fate, partly due to information collected during a more than two-year investigation that involved subpoenas and interviews with sellers, Amazon’s competitors as well as current and former employees at the company.

    “Blocking competition”

    Seattle-based Amazon controls roughly 38% of online sales in the U.S., more than that of Walmart, eBay, Apple, Best Buy and Target combined, according to the research firm Insider Intelligence. A report from Democrats in Congress estimated Amazon’s share at about 50%. About 2 million sellers list their products on Amazon’s third-party marketplace, accounting for 58% of the company’s retail sales.

    During a news conference on Wednesday, Bonta said some vendors have expressed they would offer lower prices on other sites with lower seller fees, but don’t do so to avoid punishment from Amazon.

    “Amazon has stifled its competition for years, not by successfully competing, but by blocking competition on price,” Bonta said. “As a result, California families paid more, and now Amazon must pay the price.”

    He said the lawsuit is also a message to other companies who “illegally bend the market at the expense of California consumers, small business owners and the economy.”

    Amazon did not immediately reply to a request for comment from the Associated Press. The company has said in the past that sellers set their own prices on the platform. It has also said it has the right to avoid highlighting products that are not priced competitively.

    Despite that defense, Amazon’s market power has been a subject of scrutiny from lawmakers and advocacy groups calling for stricter antitrust regulations. Earlier this year, congressional lawmakers urged the Justice Department to investigate if the company collects data on sellers to develop competing products and offer them more prominently on its site. Critics have also lambasted the increasing fees Amazon imposes on sellers, which makes it more difficult for merchants to enter the market.

    Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have been pushing bipartisan legislation aiming to limit Amazon and other Big Tech companies, including Apple, Meta and Google, from favoring their own products and services over rivals. The bill has cleared key committees but has languished in Congress for months amid intense pushback from the companies.

    Meanwhile, regulators have also been looking into Amazon’s business practices and deals. In July, the company offered concessions to settle two antitrust investigations in the European Union, including a promise to apply equal treatment to all sellers when ranking product offers on the site’s “buy box,” a coveted spot that makes items more visible to shoppers.

    In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission is investigating Amazon’s $3.9 billion acquisition of the primary health organization One Medical as well as the sign-up and cancellation practices of Amazon Prime, the company’s paid subscription service that offers deals and faster shipping.

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  • “Where do I find a charger?”: Electric vehicle push fuels concerns about infrastructure

    “Where do I find a charger?”: Electric vehicle push fuels concerns about infrastructure

    Tustin, California — Electric vehicle sales are accelerating, with a big push by California to stop selling new gas cars by 2035. But not all drivers are sold. 

    “My own concern is the range,” Novia Wong said. “Where do I find a charger? How far can I really go?” 

    These are questions that dealership owner John Patterson gets from every customer. 

    “One of the big words that we hear is, ‘range anxiety,’” he said. 

    On Wednesday, President Biden promised to make recharging more reliable, beginning with the construction of chargers along 53,000 miles of national highways. 

    Since last year, U.S. automakers have invested nearly $85 billion in electric vehicles, the White House said. 

    The average cost of the vehicles is around $66,000, according to Edmunds, but prices are coming down. 

    The starting prices for a Kia EV6 and Hyundai IONIQ 5 are around $40,000, Patterson said. That’s below the average cost of a new gas vehicle — $48,301— according to Kelley Blue Book. 

    Patterson believes the biggest roadblock for EVs now is electrical infrastructure. 

    “It has to be figured out in order for this mandate to work by 2035,” he said. “Because right now we’re not there.” 

    California’s power grid was stretched to the limit during last week’s heat wave, raising questions about whether the power grid can support the level of EVs that the government wants to see. 

    Energy economist James Bushnell said “it’s less a concern about the total amount of electricity and it’s more about the where and when that the charging is happening.” 

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  • Fullerton to Receive Millions in State Earmarks

    Fullerton to Receive Millions in State Earmarks

    Press Release
    –

    Jul 1, 2022


    FULLERTON, Calif., July 1, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The City of Fullerton will receive several state earmarks in the upcoming budget cycle. Through the efforts of Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, Fullerton will receive $6 million for the Fullerton Navigation & Recuperative Care Center at 3535 West Commonwealth Avenue. The 150-bed navigation and recuperative care center provides in-house medical workers and case managers to offer wraparound care for those experiencing homelessness. The $6 million secured can be used to ensure longevity in programming, purchase of property, or operational expenses related to homeless and support services. 

    In addition, Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva has secured $2 million for the Women’s Transitional Living Center in Fullerton for those affected by domestic violence and human trafficking. The Center provides comprehensive services from a residential program, a children’s program, a crisis hotline, and prevention and advocacy education.

    The City is also set to benefit from an $8 million earmark, secured through Senator Josh Newman, to sustain and expand the regional North Orange County Public Safety Collaborative. In 2017, Newman secured the original state budget grant of $20 million that created the Collaborative and provided funding for its first four years. The Collaborative originally began with 6 North Orange County cities and was subsequently expanded to 11. Across the region, public safety officials have developed highly effective partnerships with more than 40 community-based organizations, collaborating on strategy, sharing resources, and responding to community needs. 

    The continued funding included in California’s Budget Act of 2022 will enable the Collaborative to expand programming to address youth violence prevention and intervention in K-12 schools, promote and enhance the successful reentry of offenders into the community, and address homeless outreach and intervention efforts.

    “Senator Josh Newman and Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva have been steadfast in their efforts to secure funding for Fullerton,” said Mayor Fred Jung. “Their passion for our community and commitment to tackle tough issues should be commended and is greatly appreciated by this Council and our community as a whole.”

    “I am grateful for our partnership with both Senator Newman and Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva in securing much needed funding to address homelessness and domestic violence in our community,” said City Manager Eric Levitt. “I would also like to express gratitude to Mayor Fred Jung, who was instrumental in collaborating with Senator Newman and Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva, and to our Police Department who has been integral in ensuring the continued success of the North Orange County Public Safety Collaborative.”

    Source: City of Fullerton

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  • California Governor Gavin Newsom touts state’s “early action” on coronavirus

    California Governor Gavin Newsom touts state’s “early action” on coronavirus

    California Governor Gavin Newsom touts state’s “early action” on coronavirus – CBS News


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    California Governor Gavin Newsom sits down with CBS News’ Anna Werner to discuss the state’s latest tally of over 8,500 reported coronavirus cases. Newsom credited the state’s “early actions” for the number, low compared to New York’s 76,000 confirmed cases. What he is worried most about, Newsom revealed, was public fatigue over social distancing guidelines pushing people to brush them off, possibly lengthening the pandemic as a result.

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  • Physicians for Informed Consent Opposes That Minors Obtain Vaccination Without Parental Knowledge or Consent

    Physicians for Informed Consent Opposes That Minors Obtain Vaccination Without Parental Knowledge or Consent

    Press Release
    –

    May 1, 2022


    NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., May 1, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Physicians for Informed Consent (PIC), an educational nonprofit organization focused on science and statistics, has submitted an opposition letter to California Senate Bill 866 (SB 866).

    SB 866 proposes allowing children 12 years of age and older to, without parental consent or knowledge, become injected with any vaccines that meet “federal agency criteria.” Physicians for Informed Consent, representing hundreds of its physician and surgeon members, opposes the bill and asserts that SB 866 is immoral, potentially medically dangerous, and potentially illegal. PIC asserts that SB 866 would violate parental rights and thwart children’s ability to obtain compensation in the case of a vaccine injury.

    Per Dr. Shira Miller, PIC founder and president, “Physicians experienced in obtaining informed consent know that it is not possible for 12-year-old children as a group to understand the risks and benefits of vaccination, and California’s health education curriculum for public schools does not even mention vaccination until high school.”

    SB 866 will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, May 5, 2022. If you or someone you know lives in California, PIC urges you to read the Physicians for Informed Consent SB 866 opposition letter and request your representatives to oppose SB 866 as soon as possible, and call in or show up to the public hearing in Sacramento on May 5, 2022.

    Letter Opposing SB 866 (minors obtain vaccination without parental knowledge or consent): physiciansforinformedconsent.org/oppose-sb866

    About Physicians for Informed Consent
    Physicians for Informed Consent is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit organization focused on science and statistics. PIC delivers data on infectious diseases and vaccines, and unites doctors, scientists, healthcare professionals, attorneys, and families who support voluntary vaccination. In addition, the PIC Coalition for Informed Consent consists of over 300 U.S. and international organizations. To learn more or to become a member, please visit physiciansforinformedconsent.org.

    Physicians for Informed Consent
    Press Contact:
    info@picphysicians.org
    (925) 642-6651

    ###

    Source: Physicians for Informed Consent

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  • Physicians for Informed Consent Opposes COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Private and Public Employees and Independent Contractors in California

    Physicians for Informed Consent Opposes COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Private and Public Employees and Independent Contractors in California

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Mar 29, 2022


    NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., March 29, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Physicians for Informed Consent (PIC), an educational nonprofit organization focused on science and statistics, has submitted an opposition letter to California Assembly Bill 1993 (AB 1993).

    AB 1993 proposes a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all private and public employees and independent contractors in California. Physicians for Informed Consent, representing hundreds of its physician and surgeon members, opposes the bill and asserts that AB 1993 is both unscientific and would legalize medical bullying in the workplace. Per Dr. Shira Miller, PIC founder and president, “…the clinical trials have been the only settings in which the vaccination status of subjects/patients was closely monitored, and those trials did not detect enough COVID-19 deaths to measure a significant difference in mortality between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients despite observing tens of thousands of subjects.”

    AB 1993 will be heard by the Committee on Labor & Employment members this Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at 1:30 pm. If you or someone you know lives in California, PIC urges you to read the Physicians for Informed Consent AB 1993 opposition letter, including its accompanying educational document “COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates: 20 Scientific Facts That Challenge the Assumptions” and request of your assembly members and representatives to oppose AB 1993 as soon as possible.

    Physicians for Informed Consent 
    Press Contact:
    info@picphysicians.org
    (925) 642-6651

    Source: Physicians for Informed Consent

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  • Attorneys Bring Healthy Inspiration to Los Angeles’ Children

    Attorneys Bring Healthy Inspiration to Los Angeles’ Children

    Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities partnered with El Nido Family Centers and Play It Forward on the weekend for ‘Kids Helping Kids’


    LOS ANGELES, March 24, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities (LATLC) was delighted to lend a helping hand to its partner charities El Nido Family Centers and Play It Forward at “Kids Helping Kids” on Saturday, March 12, 2022. The attorneys from Los Angeles County took time out from their busy schedules to join volunteers at El Nido’s Pacoima FamilySource Center and the Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) program and filled gift bags containing items to inspire active and healthy lifestyles. 

    Over 200 LATLC duffel bags were filled with P.E. equipment for the families to use at home including balls, jump ropes, and other sporting equipment, as well as hand sanitizer, LATLC stress hearts, and other items to help promote health and well-being in the community. The P.E. equipment donated to these families in need by Play It Forward is the same P.E. equipment that it has donated to schools across Los Angeles County to motivate kids to stay fit and active. 

    “Kids Helping Kids was an incredible opportunity for LATLC volunteers to see firsthand the difference that they are making for the disadvantaged in the community,” says Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities 2022 President Steve Vartazarian. “We were honored to be part of this event and work with El Nido Family Centers and Play It Forward to help promote a healthier way of living.”

    Source: Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities

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  • City of Fullerton Announces Eric Levitt as Next City Manager

    City of Fullerton Announces Eric Levitt as Next City Manager

    Press Release
    –

    Mar 16, 2022


    FULLERTON, Calif., March 16, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The Fullerton City Council announced its selection of Eric Levitt to serve as the City’s next City Manager. The announcement was made during the regular meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, March 15, 2022.

    Levitt, who currently serves as City Manager for the City of Alameda, was selected following an extensive recruitment, application review, and City Council interviews with the most qualified candidates.

    Levitt has over 25 years of experience working in local government and more than 20 years of experience as a City Manager. Prior to joining the City of Alameda in April 2019, he served as City Manager in Simi Valley. Levitt has also served as City Manager for Janesville, Wisconsin, and Sedona, Arizona.

    Levitt holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Kansas.

    “I am excited to welcome Mr. Levitt as our next City Manager of Fullerton after an extensive recruitment process,” said Mayor Fred Jung. “Mr. Levitt brings a breadth of experience to the role that is singular. His extensive knowledge of economic development and experience navigating fiscal challenges to maintain organizational stability were important factors in his selection by the City Council. In addition, he has a proven track record in local government and values dialogue with our community members and our City Council.”

    Fullerton’s City Manager is appointed by and directly responsible to the Mayor and City Council. The City Manager is the Chief Executive Officer of the City and provides leadership and organizational direction for the operation and management of all City departments. The City Manager implements City Council policies and ordinances, oversees City operations, and appoints most City department heads.

    “I want to thank the Mayor and Council for their confidence in providing me this opportunity to serve the people of Fullerton,” said Levitt. “I consider it an honor and a privilege to contribute to making Fullerton a safer and better place to live, work, and play for all residents, businesses, and visitors.”

    Mr. Levitt will begin work on May 10, 2022, earning a base salary of $250,000 per year.

    Source: City of Fullerton

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  • Water witches, or dousers, are finding new clients in a drier California

    Water witches, or dousers, are finding new clients in a drier California

    Water witches, or dousers, are finding new clients in a drier California – CBS News


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    Drought-stricken farmers in California are turning to an unscientific practice known as dousing to try to find enough water for their crops. Carter Evans goes on the hunt with a self-proclaimed “water witch.”

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  • Cori Trattoria Pastificio Awarded 2022 Tre Gamberi by Gambero Rosso International

    Cori Trattoria Pastificio Awarded 2022 Tre Gamberi by Gambero Rosso International

    Italian restaurant led by Chef Accursio Lota in San Diego, California, receives prestigious honor (18 only around the world)

    Press Release
    –

    Jan 17, 2022


    SAN DIEGO, January 17, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Cori Trattoria Pastificio, a multiple award-winning Italian restaurant led by Chef Accursio Lota and located in San Diego’s thriving North Park community, has received the Tre Gamberi from Gambero Rosso. According to Gambero Rosso, Italy’s premier food and wine rating group – similar to France’s Michelin Star Awards and the James Beard Award in the United States – the Three Shrimps are “awarded to bistros, and trattorias, true engines of the Italian gastronomic tradition.” “We are so thrilled to receive this honor,” says Chef Lota. “My wife Corinne [Goria] and I have put our hearts and souls into Cori and this award is a total honor for us.” He continues, “My goal is to always be true to my Italian heritage and Sicilian roots while emphasizing fresh local ingredients. We want our guests to experience dishes that reflect tradition but also a little bit of the unexpected.”

    The Gambero Rosso Top Road Show Tour landed in San Diego to present the award during the announcement ceremony. Mr. Lorenzo Ruggeri, curator of the Gambero Rosso guide, and Luigi Salerno, the guide’s CEO, presented the award to Chef Lota and his wife and co-owner Corinne Goria in person. Cori Trattoria Pastificio was awarded Opening of the Year in Gambero Rosso’s 2021 Guide. A select few restaurants around the world receive the Tre Gamberi, including Massimo Bottura’s Torno Subito in Dubai, which was given the award in 2021.

    Cori Trattoria Pastificio has been recognized among such an esteemed group for their many classic and innovative dishes, including snails in garlic confit with cherry tomatoes and mint, tuna prosciutto, savory donuts with parmesan foam, and an array of handmade seasonal pastas and ravioli.

    About Cori Trattoria Pastificio

    “Cori” means heart in Chef/Owner Accursio Lota’s native Sicilian dialect. The dishes you’ll enjoy at Cori are all about melding the flavors of his Sicilian homeland with the best of local Southern California ingredients and a special focus on fresh pasta made by hand at the restaurant every day. This is the heart of Cori Trattoria Pastificio. Visit Cori Pasta to learn more.

    About Gambero Rosso

    Gambero Rosso is the world’s authority on Italian food, wine and travel. Established in 1986, it is acknowledged throughout Italy (and by those in the know internationally) as the provider of the most up-to-date, impartial and expert insights into “saper vivere,” the Italian way of life. Learn more here.

    Source: Cori Trattoria Pastificio

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  • Dr. Brandon Ross, a Leading Democratic Challenger for California Governor in Recall Election, Promises to Appoint Female African American or Latina Democrat as Senator

    Dr. Brandon Ross, a Leading Democratic Challenger for California Governor in Recall Election, Promises to Appoint Female African American or Latina Democrat as Senator

    If elected governor of California, Dr. Brandon Ross states his goal of replacing Senator Diane Feinstein with an under-represented female democrat, should Feinstein resign her position.

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Sep 5, 2021


    SAN DIEGO, September 5, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The U.S. Senate is currently controlled by the Democratic Party, thanks to the tie-breaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris. But the Senate is tied at 50-50, and the loss of a single senator to the Republican side would flip the balance of the Senate and have ramifications across America. Today, Republican candidate Larry Elder has stated that he plans to replace Feinstein with a Republican, should he become governor and Feinstein resigns.

    In response to Mr. Elder, Dr. Brandon Ross has made a similar commitment to replace Feinstein with a Democrat. Dr. Ross goes further and has stated his intention to appoint a Democrat who is female and either of African American or Hispanic descent.

    “My phones and email have been lighting up today from constituents asking me my take on Elder’s position. Obviously, there is no question that I will fill any void left in one of California’s U.S. Senate seats with a top-qualified Democrat. But I would like to take that a step further and commit to trying to even the playing field in the Senate. I will find the most qualified minority female candidate for the job. Females and minorities have been under-represented in U.S. politics for too long, and if I have a chance to make a difference, I will do so.”

    It should be noted that Senator Feinstein has recently stated that she has no intention of stepping down. Feinstein has served in the U.S. Senate since the early 1990s.

    For more on the Ross Campaign, see:

    www.ross4gov.com

    ross4gov@gmail.com

    (619) 883-3599

    Source: Ross For Governor Campaign

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  • Call to Action Message From Supernanny- Jo Frost for Elijah’s Law Nationally

    Call to Action Message From Supernanny- Jo Frost for Elijah’s Law Nationally

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Jul 10, 2021


    NEW YORK, July 10, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    In Supernanny, she’s better known as Nanny Jo. Jo Frost used problem-solving strategies, including discipline and follow-through, to assist parents in regaining control in their households. However, many didn’t know that Jo frost suffers from food allergies, non-food allergies, and asthma. The following is an open letter from Jo Frost-Supernanny in support of the Elijah-Alavi Foundation and Elijah’s Law, which is a law that tells childcare programs they must follow state food allergy guidelines and protocols to prevent, recognize and respond quickly to life-threatening anaphylactic reactions.

    Jo Frost shares a heartfelt message and Call To Action support video for a little boy named Elijah-Alavi Silvera and a foundation named in his honor called, Elijah-Alavi Foundation. Little Elijah lost his life due to a tragic incident while attending his childcare center. At three years of age, Elijah had suffered an anaphylaxis reaction due to a portion of food that contained allergen given to him by an educator, causing him to pass away soon after. Now, Jo Frost wants you to know and understand the importance of severe food allergies and the law named after Elijah, called Elijah’s law, S218B. The law passed in the New York States on September 12th, 2019, requiring child care centers to follow guidelines for preventing and responding to food allergy anaphylaxis, and just recently a bill passed in Illinois, bill number HB0102, soon to be signed by the governor. Jo Frost wants others to take notice and adopt Elijah’s Law in their hometown. She mentions that “We need change, and by working better together, we can make a difference.”

    “Everyone knows that no parent can ever be the same after losing a child. Since that day… that day, Almost everyone in their lives, old and new, understood Dina’s and Thomas’s process. They’ve crumbled, they have risen, they stood tall, and carried their broken hearts, always trying their best to move forward. Thomas and Dina and their son Sebastin have been through it, and I’m sure they will continue to go through it. Some people have asked them how are they doing this even in their sufferings fighting for awareness and education around food allergies. Candidly, I don’t know but, I believe that it’s the strength of their son, Elijah-Alavi, keeping them going. Thomas mentions that with almost every step they take, he can feel his knees ready to buckle from the weight of this heartbreak. Every. Single. Step. Then he remembers his other son Sebastin and kept going. Or, he’ll look to his wife, Dina, and from that moment she’d entered his life; has been the foundation from which he stands and then takes one more step, with creating an internationally accredited food allergy training with their partners, PSAs, steering policies, passing Elijah’s Law in New York State and now soon to be in others nationally, working on initiatives, working with groups, individuals and advocates, businesses and organizations to come together to do their part in helping to ensure that Elijah’s life will continue and with it increasing the likelihood that people everywhere hear about how important it is to know the signs and treat the symptoms of severe food allergies and anaphylaxis.

    I implore you to understand why it’s important to have Elijah’s Law in your hometown. Elijah’s Law will ensure the proper food allergy protection and guidance are to be put in place so when you drop your kids off at their childcare centers, you will have peace of mind knowing that the staff has been properly trained to understand the signs and symptoms and how to treat anaphylaxis in the event of an emergency. Well, we are here. We are alive. We get to choose to do something. For Dina and Thomas, it’s ensuring Elijah’s life continues to have an impact on the world. It’s ensuring his presence continues to echo. You are here. You are alive. You get to choose to do something, today, every day. What will it be? “We Need Change!” And by working BETTER TOGETHER, we can make a difference.”

    To help support the very important issue to get Elijah’s law in your home town, please contact

    Thomas Silvera- Co-Founder CEO/President

    Elijah-Alavi Foundation

    Office: 1(484) 460-2457

    Email: tsilvera@elijahalavifoundation.org

    www.elijahalavifoundation.org

    Source: Elijah-Alavi Foundation

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  • TOOTRiS CEO Alessandra Lezama Joins San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum Board to Help Fuel STREAM Initiative

    TOOTRiS CEO Alessandra Lezama Joins San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum Board to Help Fuel STREAM Initiative

    Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art & Math Critical to Early Childhood Learning

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Jul 1, 2021


    SAN DIEGO, July 1, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum has named TOOTRiS CEO Alessandra Lezama to its Board of Directors to help the nonprofit fulfill its mission to promote fluency in science, technology, reading, engineering, art, and math (STREAM) among young learners. 

    While STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) has been at the forefront of education to prepare the future workforce, the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum is focusing more broadly on STREAM content to serve a broader need in the community. 

    “Since we serve the littlest of learners, reading must be part of every aspect of their learning; we incorporate art as a platform to teach science, technology, engineering, and math concepts,” said Krishna Kabra, the Museum’s Executive Director. ”It is essential that all young children see themselves as capable of learning and understanding these fundamental concepts. Our goal is to help them build a lifelong interest in these areas. We believe we can, and we will reduce inequities in early childhood STREAM education.” 

    Originally founded in 1999 in Escondido as a traveling education program in science and art, the Museum now provides hands-on educational exhibits and programs focusing on science, art, and world cultures for over 100,000 annual visitors, including children, families and school groups.  

    Since being named Executive Director in August 2020, Kabra – who has more than 20 years of experience in the corporate world – has reconfigured the Museum’s programs as virtual and distance-learning formats due to the pandemic.  By offering free, online activities, the Museum reached over 900,000 people from around the world via social media; distributed 3,200 free, hands-on science and art activity kits to local library branches; and served 4,378 local students through virtual workshops.  

    The Museum also established partnerships with the Oceanside Unified School District, San Diego Public Library Branches, and the Humane Society through virtual and distance-learning program offerings. The Museum is in the process of reopening safely onsite, and, in the fall, will resurrect its Mobile Museum that visits communities throughout the San Diego region. The Museum plans to continue offering virtual programming to reach more children and families.  

    “I applaud Krishna’s leadership and her ability to pivot the Museum’s programs and offerings to ensure our children continue to have an innovative and fun learning platform and experience,” said Lezama, who founded TOOTRiS in 2019 as a first-of-its-kind SaaS platform for on-demand Child Care. “I am honored to join the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum Board and support its mission to make sure every child has an opportunity to blossom and succeed.” 

    Lezama, a seasoned technology executive, joins a Board of Directors that includes local business leaders and entrepreneurs who serve as advocates and ambassadors for the Museum. 

    “We are incredibly fortunate to have Alessandra on the team,” Kabra said. ”She is the ultimate passionate leader and powerhouse, and brings a tremendous amount of vision, expertise, and ambition. The Museum is at a critical point of inflection, and as we embark upon our next phase of growth, we need exemplary leaders like Alessandra to join us at the helm. She is courageous and committed, willing to lean in, roll her sleeves up, and do what it takes to guide the Museum to the next level. We have big, bold, audacious goals as an organization.” 

    About TOOTRiS  

    TOOTRiS is reinventing Child Care, making it convenient, affordable and on-demand. As the world shifts to digitalized services, TOOTRiS helps parents and providers connect and transact in real-time, empowering working parents – especially women – to secure quality Child Care, while allowing providers to unlock their potential and fully monetize their program. TOOTRiS is creating a new digital economy that promotes entrepreneurial opportunities for individuals with passion and talent to become Child Care providers, improving their quality of life while increasing the much-needed supply of Child Care across the state. TOOTRiS’ unique technology enables employers to provide fully managed Child Care Benefits, giving their workforce the flexibility and family support paramount to regaining employee productivity and increasing their ROI. 

    Press/Media
    press@tootris.com
    (858) 529-1123 

    Source: TOOTRiS

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  • San Diego Regional Center Partners With TOOTRiS to Offer Comprehensive Child Care Solutions to Employees

    San Diego Regional Center Partners With TOOTRiS to Offer Comprehensive Child Care Solutions to Employees

    New Alliance Will Enable Nonprofit to Better Support Key Staff Across Eight Locations

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Jun 15, 2021


    SAN DIEGO, June 15, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The San Diego Regional Center (SDRC), a leader in the community for persons with developmental disabilities, has partnered with TOOTRiS to provide real-time Child Care services to its employees. With this partnership, SDRC’s staff of more than 600 will have access to thousands of local Child Care providers through the TOOTRiS’ platform, removing barriers that prevent working parents from remaining in the workforce and advancing their family-friendly work environment.

    As a first-of-its-kind SaaS platform, TOOTRiS connects parents, Child Care providers, employers, and subsidy programs all in real time. One of TOOTRiS’ goals is to create sustainable, systematic change for greater equality. Child Care challenges cause one in four women to leave the workforce and costs employers millions of dollars each year in turnover, lost productivity, and absenteeism. Over the last year, nearly 3 million women dropped out of the workforce across America, many due to the lack of Child Care. With a staff of more than 65% women, SDRC recognizes that Child Care support is key for long-term success, and its partnership with TOOTRiS is a win-win solution for the organization and the community.

    “Through this partnership with TOOTRiS, our employees now have access to the only real-time Child Care benefits solutions available, ensuring our employees have access to quality Child Care so they can thrive at our organization,” said Carlos Flores, San Diego Regional Center Executive Director. “By providing an affordable Child Care service and increasing Child Care availability and visibility for families, TOOTRiS creates a level playing field so that all working parents, regardless of economic status, location, or schedule, have a chance to pursue professional growth.”

    “When employees are provided access to Child Care benefits, they are not forced to choose between a paycheck and their child,” said Alessandra Lezama, CEO of TOOTRiS. “Families in San Diego with two working parents spend up to 40% of their income on Child Care. That is excessively high. The San Diego Regional Center has always been a forward-thinking nonprofit, dedicated to providing the best services for our community. By offering Child Care as part of its existing employee wellness program, the organization will significantly improve productivity, career advancements, and employee retention, allowing SDRC to continue its amazing work.”

    About the San Diego Regional Center
    The San Diego Regional Center is a service of San Diego-Imperial Counties Developmental Services, Inc. and a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that contracts with the State of California to provide the services outlined in the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act. The San Diego Regional Center is a focal point in Imperial and San Diego counties for 33,000 persons with developmental disabilities such as intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and other disabling conditions, encouraging them to live productive, satisfying, and meaningful lives as valued members of our community.

    About TOOTRiS
    TOOTRiS is reinventing Child Care, making it convenient, affordable and on-demand. As the world shifts to digitalized services, TOOTRiS helps parents and providers connect and transact in real time, empowering working parents – especially women – to secure quality Child Care, while allowing providers to unlock their potential and fully monetize their program. TOOTRiS is creating a new digital economy that promotes entrepreneurial opportunities for individuals with passion and talent to become Child Care providers, improving their quality of life while increasing the much-needed supply of Child Care across the state. TOOTRiS’ unique technology enables employers to provide fully managed Child Care Benefits, giving their workforce the flexibility and family support paramount to regaining employee productivity and increasing their ROI.

    Press/Media
    press@tootris.com
    (858) 529-1123 

    Source: TOOTRiS

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  • Key Senate Democrats remain non-committal on Biden’s labor secretary pick ahead of confirmation hearing | CNN Politics

    Key Senate Democrats remain non-committal on Biden’s labor secretary pick ahead of confirmation hearing | CNN Politics



    CNN
     — 

    President Joe Biden’s pick to be the next labor secretary, Julie Su, has yet to secure the support of key Democrats ahead of her nomination hearing on Thursday, suggesting she faces an uphill battle to confirmation by the Senate.

    The tepid reception among some members of the president’s own party is part of a broader issue that’s emerged in recent months for the Biden administration. Despite a narrow majority in the Senate, Democrats have with more recent frequency failed to sign off on high-profile Biden appointees – torpedoing Phil Washington’s nomination to lead the Federal Aviation Administration as well as Gigi Sohn’s nomination to the Federal Communications Commission. If Su does not secure enough support from the Senate, she would be the highest-ranking Biden nominee so far to fail to be confirmed.

    In the 51-49 Democratic-controlled Senate, more than two liberal defections could tank the nomination. And if California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who has been away from Congress while recovering from shingles for the past two months, or another Democratic senator is absent, the path would narrow ever more.

    Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called on the chamber to confirm Biden’s labor nominee, and on Tuesday afternoon, Su was on Capitol Hill meeting with Democratic Majority Whip Dick Durbin. But two Democratic senators up for reelection in red states, Montana Sen. Jon Tester and West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, are not ready to throw their support behind her yet. It’s also not clear how Arizona independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who left the Democratic Party last year but kept her committee assignments with the majority, will vote.

    Tester, who says he plans to meet with Su following Thursday’s hearing, told reporters on Tuesday that he remains “very ambivalent,” adding, “I voted for her before. I don’t have a problem with her right now.”

    “I have no comment,” Manchin told CNN three times when asked about Su.

    Hannah Hurley, a spokesperson for Sinema’s office, told CNN that the senator “does not preview her votes.”

    Su was narrowly confirmed to be the deputy secretary of labor in 2021, receiving unanimous support at the time from Senate Democrats and no support from Republicans. In March, when then-Labor Secretary Marty Walsh departed the administration, Su was appointed acting secretary of the agency.

    Sen. Bill Cassidy, the ranking member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, which will oversee Su’s confirmation hearing, has suggested that Su lacks the bona fides to handle labor negotiations.

    “Setting his politics aside, no one could say Marty Walsh didn’t have significant experience in negotiations and managing organizations,” Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, said in a statement Monday. “With 150 labor contracts expiring this year, the potential of replacing him with someone who has no direct experience handling labor disputes should be concerning.”

    Prior to joining the Biden administration, Su was the secretary for the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the state’s labor commissioner. Su has gained critics over her time in leadership in California as well as her support for A.B. 5, a California law that aims to reclassify certain gig workers as regular employees.

    She faced scrutiny for California’s handling of unemployment benefits during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly her oversight of the state’s Employment Development Department. During the pandemic, the department delayed approving unemployment benefits and paid out billions on fraudulent claims. Su has said EDD’s systems were not prepared for the number of unemployment claims made.

    Su will emphasize the importance of American small businesses during the hearing Thursday, according to an excerpt of her prepared opening remarks provided to CNN by a source familiar with the nomination process, telling committee members that she has “seen first-hand the strength and creativity of American workers and business owners.”

    “While I was growing up, my family also saw opportunity and their shot at the middle class in the form of small businesses. They owned a dry cleaning and laundromat business, and then a franchise pizza restaurant,” Su is expected to say. “For years, my dad would work his day job and then head right to the pizza shop, returning home after 10 pm, often with leftover pizza for our school lunches the next day. I know small business owners are the engines of our economy, because I watched it every day.”

    The high-stakes nomination has pushed outside groups to lodge broad public efforts to lobby for and against Su’s leadership.

    One outside group called “Stand Against Su” has launched a public ad campaign lobbying against the nominee, calling her a “fiery critic of capitalism” and citing her past actions in California. Provisions she has supported, they argue, have made it more difficult for independent contractors and franchisees to operate in California.

    The AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest labor federation, is leading a new campaign in support of Su, Director of Public Affairs Ray Zaccaro confirmed to CNN. The campaign, led by AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, will include a six-figure digital ad buy targeting Arizona and other states, as well as Washington, DC. The federation is also committing resources and mobilizing the 60 affiliate unions nationally as part of the effort. Punchbowl News first reported on the federation’s campaign launch.

    The White House continues to stand by Su, pointing to Senate Democrats’ past unanimous support during her last confirmation proceedings.

    A White House official told CNN Su was part of the efforts to avert a rail shutdown last year, and that she has met with senators from both sides of the aisle during the nomination process. They further pointed out that she’s offered to meet with every member of the Senate HELP Committee.

    “We’re looking forward to the hearing coming up on Thursday and feel confident … about Julie’s confirmation process. … She has a proven track record she can stand on proudly,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Tuesday. “The president is proud to have nominated her.”

    This story has been updated with additional developments.

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  • EPA preparing to release strict vehicle emissions rules | CNN Politics

    EPA preparing to release strict vehicle emissions rules | CNN Politics



    CNN
     — 

    The US Environmental Protection Agency is preparing to release strict new proposed federal emissions standards for light-duty vehicles that, if implemented, would move the US car market decisively toward electric vehicles over the next decade.

    The EPA is considering emissions standards that could make up to two-thirds of new passenger vehicles sold in the US electric by 2032, according to a source familiar with the proposal.

    If implemented, the new greenhouse gas performance standards would start for light-duty vehicles that are model year 2027 and gradually increase through model year 2032.

    By 2032, the rules would ensure that 64% to 67% of all new-car sales in the US would be electric vehicles, according to the source.

    The EPA’s proposal, which was first reported by The New York Times, comes after California air regulators voted last year to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035 and set interim targets to phase these cars out.

    EPA spokesperson Tim Carroll did not comment on the specifics of the proposal but said the agency is working on developing new standards “to accelerate the transition to a zero-emissions transportation future, protecting people and the planet,” as directed by a previous executive order from President Joe Biden.

    “Once the interagency review process is completed, the proposals will be signed, published in the Federal Register, and made available for public review and comment,” Carroll said.

    The new rules could come as soon as Wednesday.

    The EPA proposal is a monumental step toward zero-emissions vehicles, coming as the US tries to keep up with other countries racing toward EV adoption, one expert told CNN.

    “I believe it’s pretty doable,” said Margo Oge, chair of the International Council on Clean Transportation and a former Obama EPA official. “The industry is there. Europe is ahead of the US, China is ahead of Europe, and these companies are global companies.”

    Oge noted that in the US, California is already proposing 70% new zero-emissions vehicle sales by 2030 and other states are planning to adopt California’s rules – meaning much of the US car industry will be transitioning ahead of any proposed federal rule.

    Still, the EPA’s proposal takes a different approach from California’s policy. Whereas California is mandating car companies sell a certain percentage of electric vehicles, the EPA would gradually raise greenhouse gas emissions standards to increasingly stringent levels from 2027 to 2032, pushing the industry toward electric vehicles to meet those high standards.

    The EPA rule would ensure that the rest of the country and the US car industry would follow California’s lead, Oge said.

    Biden has made electrifying the cars that Americans drive a key part of his climate goals. In 2021, the president set a new target that half of all vehicles sold in the US by 2030 would be battery electric, fuel-cell electric or plug-in hybrid.

    The US Treasury Department is set to release rules for new federal electric vehicle tax credits on April 18. While these tax credits are complex and could take time for consumers to take full advantage of, experts hope they will help accelerate the transition to EVs in the US.

    “Given the industry, the [Inflation Reduction Act] and what companies are doing globally, I just don’t see this number as being out of reach,” Oge said.

    The proposed EPA rules will go through a lengthy public comment process and could be changed before they are finalized.

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