In California: A $2 billion homelessness ask, coronavirus spreads and a waterless plant
21 people on a Princess Cruise ship test positive for coronavirus. Plus, state lawmakers want big bucks to fight homelessness. And go with me to a lighter place, where succulents thrive but not because they're watered.
It's Arlene Martínez, with some handpicked news to take you into the weekend.
But first, nearly 200 baby sea bass left the San Pedro tanks where they were raised, bound for a submarine canyon rich with their favorite dish, tiny shrimp. With luck, they'll grow to be 560 pounds, live to be 75 and help ensure their species survives for generations to come.
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Lawmakers want $2 billion, now, for homeless efforts
State lawmakers announced a new bill Friday that would direct $2 billion each year to ending the homelessness crisis. The state is failing to do enough, said Assemblymembers Buffy Wicks and Rob Bonta who spoke to reporters alongside Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin outside a community resource center in Berkeley.
“We need to make sure the cities and the counties are equipped to do the work we know they can and want to do,” Wicks said.
The money would be included in the fiscal 2020-21 budget and used for housing and rental assistance, wraparound services and construction of affordable housing. It would also be distributed locally for programs and services to reduce homelessness.
She finally kept a plant alive. Then she learned the truth
Succulents are hearty plants, to be sure, but they still need water and light. For two years, Caelie Wilkes conscientiously provided both, along with carefully washing its leaves, at her Northern California home. The time came to repot it, Wilkes determined.
That's when she learned the truth — her beautiful, flourishing plant was plastic.
Unexpectedly, the world came together to share similar experiences. As for the plant, Wilkes repotted it anyway. She said she's “not going to give up on it now.”
While we're talking gardens, spring arrived early this year in some NorCal places. Here's how to get your garden (presumably a real one) ready.
Coronavirus: The ship, privacy and SXSW cancels
Vice President Mike Pence said Friday that the cruise ship docked off San Francisco will move to a “non-commercial port,” and all passengers and crew will be tested for the coronavirus.
Speaking at the White House, Pence said that 46 people aboard the ship had been swabbed. Of those, 21 tested positive for the virus (19 were crew), he said, 24 were negative and one of the tests was inconclusive.
"It’s very likely that the crew was exposed on two different outings," he said. "And we know the coronavirus manifested among the previous passengers."
A second medical screener at LAX also tested positive for coronavirus, one of two new cases reported in Los Angeles County on Friday. Worldwide, there were over 100,000 confirmed cases of the disease and 260 cases in the United States, experts tracking it said.
Officials say they are trying to be as transparent as possible when it comes to releasing information on coronavirus. They're updating residents on new cases and providing emergency resources to battle the epidemic.
But on one matter there remains absolute silence: the names of those who have died after being exposed to COVID-19. So far, there has been one death in California and at least 13 in the Seattle area.
Experts in public health and bioethics say that far from helping society, a decision to reveal the identities of those — dead or alive — who have contracted coronavirus would be a disaster with far-reaching ramifications.
Should such personal information be leaked to the media or online, "it could be very bad for those individuals," said Claire Wheeler, professor of Public Health at Portland State University. "What if they lost their jobs? In these situations, people become hysterical. That's the most dangerous piece of this."
SXSW organizers cancel the film and technology conference, which had been set to start March 13 with speakers including Hillary Rodham Clinton; Andrew Yang; Steve Jobs' widow, Laurene Powell Jobs; and rocker Ozzy Osbourne.
Sure, work from home if you can. But what if you have in-person work like cleaning airplanes at LAX? For Valarie Smith, the unease is constant.
In a Santa Monica nursing home, Nikia Wilson's mom has gotten scabies repeatedly. She is worried coronavirus would spread quickly were it to arrive. She has cause: 75% of U.S. nursing homes have been cited for failing to properly monitor and control infections in the last three years.
Ventura County sees its first 'presumptive positive' case of coronavirus.
Coronavirus myths, debunked: A cattle vaccine, bioweapons and a $3,000 test.
Coronavirus Watch: Our daily newsletter drops all the latest right to your inbox.
Golden State Killer offers a deal and what else we're tracking
The Golden State Killer has agreed to plead guilty in exchange for being spared the death penalty. A family member of two victims doesn't want that to stop the story of what happened from being told.
A Salinas cannabis grower whose employees tried to steal marijuana plants in the middle of the night to prevent their destruction has agreed to pay $1.3 million in penalties and fees.
See how you and your neighbors voted in this block-by-block interactive put together by the LA Times. Not every county has released results, so check back if you're not here yet.
LAX will allow taxis to resume pickups in the central terminal area.
Light snow is expected to hit the Sierra Nevada on Saturday, the same day that light rain could fall across the rest of the state. You might remember we just had our driest February since 1864.
At 2 a.m. Sunday, it becomes 3 a.m. Sunday. Don't forget to set your clocks forward to mark losing an hour of sleep.
I'll leave you with these raw reviews straight outta our world-class national parks. In a coronavirus world, maybe being outside away from everyone is the answer. Unless they sound too boring.
A 1-star rating for Sequoia National Park
Instagrammer @subparparks brings an alternative to the usual spiritual-awakening-finding-one's-self-posts visits to glorious natural wonders often inspire.
Like, have you ever thought this when you're visiting Yosemite? "Trees block view. And there are too many gray rocks."
Maybe you're trudging along in Sequoia and there are nice big trees and all but this crosses your mind: "There are bugs and they will bite you on your face."
On Zion: "Scenery is distant and impersonal."
On Yellowstone: "Save yourself some money / Boil some water at home."
And the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: "Nothing specific to do."
Enjoy your weekend, however nonspecific it is.
Oh, one more thing. I learned of @subparparks through California Sun, another great newsletter to follow for news on our fine state. Head on over and show him some Cali love.
In California is a roundup of news from across USA TODAY Network newsrooms. Also contributing: Los Angeles Times, Associated Press.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SXSW, Golden State Killer, coronavirus, giant bass, homeless, california
