Chances are the new coronavirus was circulating in Los Angeles weeks before health officials started testing and keeping track of confirmed cases in early March, according to a new new medical report.

Los Angeles County officials have acknowledged that the respiratory disease COVID-19 likely hit the region earlier than initially thought and many people have suspected they already had the coronavirus. But now, a report this week in the Journal of American Medical Association backs up the assertion.

Doctors throughout Los Angeles County started seeing a wave of patients with flu-like symptoms in February, which was odd because it would represent an unusual third wave of the seasonal flu, according to the report, published Tuesday, March 31. But at the same time, the percent of laboratory specimens from these patients testing positive for the flu declined, based on results from seven public labs throughout the county.

That led researchers, according to the JAMA report, to suspect those cases could be something else, maybe COVID-19.

Researchers then looked at 131 lab tests from patients treated at Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center who had mild flu-like symptoms in mid-March and found that seven patients, or roughly 5%, tested positive for COVID-19.

These seven patients were likely not isolating either, meaning that community spread probably happened much earlier than suspected, the report said.

“These patients had sufficiently mild illness to be active in the community throughout their illness, increasing the possibility of transmission,” said the report, of which Dr. Brad Spellberg, chief medical officer at LAC-USC, was the chief author. “Such transmission is consistent with the unusual, third countywide influenzalike illness spike that occurred late in the season and with declining rates of influenza positivity.”

The report concluded that early containment efforts were not going to work.

“Nevertheless, the results suggested that containment efforts were unlikely to succeed and helped inform the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to adopt a more aggressive mitigation strategy to reduce COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Similar efforts may be needed in other jurisdictions.”

Alanna Smith is an Australian basketball player who plays for both the Phoenix Mercury and the Australian national team. A graduate of Stanford University, Smith was the eighth pick in the 2019 draft. She spoke with Just Women’s Sports about what the Olympics postponement means to her and her teammates, the uncertainty surrounding the WNBA season. The Southern California News Group is partnering with Just Women’s Sports. Sign up for the newsletter here.

When did you first start to register that the coronavirus was a big deal?

I think in Australia, because we’re pretty isolated from the rest of the world, we were at little behind. We were watching as China and Italy started to report a lot of cases and go into lockdown. And then you guys in the US started to experience a surge. I think that prompted Australia to realize that we needed to make some moves, especially as cases started to pop up. Because there’s not enough materials to test it, we’re making estimates as to how many people have it. You just don’t know, but you know it’s a lot. Nowhere near the same amount as other places, but we’re still actively trying to stop the spread. Social distancing is in effect, and only essential businesses are open. We’re being encouraged to stay indoors. And all of that happened quite fast, maybe in just the past week or two.

And at what point did you realize the Olympics might be postponed?

Once travel bans were being put in place, and people were being discouraged from travelling. That was when I thought, Okay, this is an issue. Not just for basketball but for other sports as well, because people need to travel to qualifiers and such. And then just thinking about sports in general, so many of them involve contact. You’re in close proximity with others, which is super high-risk. So yeah, I had doubts early on to be honest, just thinking about the health and the safety of all the athletes as well as the fans. It didn’t seem plausible that they could pull it off.

What did you think of Australia’s decision to opt out prior to the official postponement? How did you think the committee handled everything? 

It was the right decision, just in terms of the health and safety of everyone. And I think the Australian Olympic Committee did a really good job of keeping us in the loop. They were sending out emails two to three times a week, telling us where to go for support and such. We weren’t left in the dark. We had a pretty good idea of what was going on. So overall I think they did their best in terms of the situation at hand. Obviously, right now everyone has to take it day by day, week by week.

But I also know that it was a really, really hard decision to make. You have athletes whose whole lives were dedicated to going to these Olympics. They worked year after year for this moment to be on the world stage, and then to just have it pulled out from under them is really tough. But thankfully, the games aren’t cancelled. They’re still happening, just at a different date.

How would you describe your team’s reaction to all this? 

I think overall, it’s definitely a little bit of heartbreak from the national team perspective. We were in a really good spot. We were ready, and we were really, really excited to get together to prepare for the Olympics. We qualified in early February in France, about two weeks before everything went crazy, and we came home from that expecting to turn all our attention to Tokyo. Obviously, that isn’t happening. But I also sense a bit of relief from a lot of people as well, because people were very worried about what was going to happen and what would come out of it if it was allowed to go ahead.

And how has all of this affected you personally?

I mean, I don’t have a job. I’m out of work. I play a sport for a living, and it’s not possible to do that right now. So like many people, I don’t have any income. And because all the gyms are closed, I can’t go and work out, I can’t lift, I can’t go to a basketball court, I can’t shoot. I’ve been left to my own devices, and I have to get creative about working out at home. It hasn’t been that bad, to be honest. There’s some fun ways to work out at home. I’ve got a little bit of equipment, so I’m lucky that I can at least do some typical stuff. It’s really more about staying active, so I’ve been trying to figure out ways to do that while also staying inside.

Your teammate, Liz Cambage, was in China in December, where she fell ill with what seems like a bad case of COVID-19. You all played together afterwards. What was that like? 

When she was telling us about this sickness, we didn’t know what it was. And she was 100% fine when we saw her in France. She was fully healthy, she’d gotten the okay from doctors and everything, so we were confident that she was healthy and we were all going to be okay. We didn’t really know the full extent of the illness until after France, and then we were like, “Shit.” But no Opals have been confirmed positive since, so I think we’re okay. It was a real case of ignorance is bliss, because if we knew then what we know now, there’d have been a lot more stress.

Even though you saw postponement coming, I imagine the uncertainty was tough to deal with. Do you feel like you’re going through it all again with the WNBA now? 

It was tough, because you put a lot of emotional energy into preparing for something like the Olympics. Plus it was just so close. And personally, I’m recovering from injury, so I’m rehabbing now and was trying to get my body right for the next few months in order to get back to my peak when the games started. Now I’m aiming for the WNBA season, but that’s up in the air as well. We haven’t been told whether it’s going to go ahead or if it’s going to be delayed.

You’re in this limbo, honestly, because you’re trying to prepare for the season physically, but you’re also trying to prepare yourself mentally for the chance that it’s either cancelled or delayed. It does mess with your emotions. You have to be pretty tough and just get on with it. Because this stuff is going to happen, and whether you like it or not, you just have to deal with it.

And unlike the NBA, you fly coach in the WNBA, which means even if you were playing games without fans, you’d still be exposed to crowds on a regular basis if the season went on. 

Exactly. We’d only have so much control over the environment. We wouldn’t really have the luxury of guaranteed safety, so it’s a whole different thought process behind the WNBA’s decision. We just have to wait and see.

What communications have you received from the WNBA regarding a potential delay?

We receive a lot of emails from the Players’ Associations. Just check-ins, making sure we’re safe, and that if we need anything or have to travel at all, they’re aware of it. They did a really good job of getting people back to their home country who needed to go. It’s similar to what we experienced with the Olympic Committee as well. We get updates pretty often about what’s going on and where people’s thoughts are. But we’re all pretty much waiting week-to-week to see how the situation progresses and to see if the season can still go ahead.

At the moment, yes. But like I said, I’m still not sure what decision is going to be made in terms of that. I mean, you look at the NBA, and nobody knows if it’s going to be delayed or if they’ll have to cancel. So I’m just trying to keep fit, and keep relatively active in the hopes that it will go ahead. But you have to be prepared for every outcome, whether you like it or not.

Editor’s note: Thanks for reading this story, which is part of a weekly series in partnership with Just Women’s Sports, a platform that promotes coverage of women’s sports. Visit their website or sign up for the newsletter here.

It’s scary out there. People are wearing masks, families are hunkering down in their homes, the streets are just about empty.

With all that’s going on, parents may be wondering how to explain the coronavirus pandemic to young children in a way they understand, and in a way that doesn’t increase their fear and anxiety.

Shu-Chen “Jenny” Yen, a Cal State Fullerton associate professor of child and adolescent studies, has set out to answer those questions with her ebook, “Something Strange Happened in My City,” which has been translated into several languages, including Chinese, Croatian, Dutch, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and Vietnamese.

“This is my contribution,” Yen said about the book, which focuses on children ages 3-8. “Every time there is a natural disaster, when you watch the news there is zero mention of kids. Kids look up to their parents and copy their emotions. It is very important for parents to talk to their kids and explain what’s going on.”

In her book, Yen explains through a story framed as a parent speaking to their child how to share age-appropriate information, reassure children about their safety and explain why they cannot go outside to play with their friends.

“Preschool-age kids are egocentric and care about themselves,” Yen said. “The purpose is to reassure their safety, that’s their biggest care.”

She also shares ways to redirect the child’s attention to the positive, with stories about the heroes — doctors, nurses, delivery people — as well as ways they can contribute themselves by drawing pictures and writing letters to adults who are helping.

And if they have questions you don’t know the answers to, it’s OK to say ‘I don’t know,’ Yen said.

This isn’t her only ebook to help children cope with a disaster. She wrote her first right after the 9/11 terror attack.

Yen was on her way to school when she heard the news and went home to find her 4-year-old daughter, Angela, who was with her grandparents, crying in fear.

Yen said she started thinking about the best way to explain the attack to her daughter and how she could share that information with other parents. She settled on doing a social story, a format that originated with special education as a way to tell a child in stages how to perform a task. It eventually was put into use in childhood education.

She used the format in other ebooks on the 2017 hurricane season that devastated the Gulf Coast and Caribbean and “Something Strange Happened in My City.”

Angela Lee is now in her first year of a Ph.D. program at Stanford University focusing on media psychology. She doesn’t remember a lot about 9/11 other than being frightened by the news that was on almost nonstop at her house. But her mother’s first ebook made a lasting impact.

“Even though I don’t have a strong memory of it, I know it must have helped somehow and helped other kids who were younger and older than me,” Lee said. “It’s an important concept. Not, ‘oh, it’s an adult thing you don’t have to worry about.’ “

She and her brother, Eric, helped Yen with the coronavirus book by doing formatting, graphics, getting photos from a website and some editing and proofing.

“When the virus started moving out of Asia, my mom said she had to do something,” Lee said. “She cranked the book out in a week.”

“It’s been an unreal but cool experience,” she said about working with her mother. “It’s just an amazing opportunity to do something to help right now. And it’s special to do something like that with my mom.”

So far, “Something Strange Happened in My City,” has had more than 7,500 downloads, Yen said. She also is looking for funding for a hard copy version of the book and has a goal to get more than 100,000 copies into parents’ hands in the U.S.

“It’s been very touching,” she said. “I wrote an English version and more educators posted it on their website and people started to ask about it. People around the world, psychologists, therapists and educators are asking if it could be translated into their home language.”

“The goal is to make sure kids can get the story as soon as they can,” she said. “We don’t want fear to set in their minds for too long.”

Get the audio book here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWltPK3vUXs&feature=youtu.be

So, how are we doing with the latest cultural phenomenon called social distancing?

Of course, there’s no perfect measure of how well society is adhering to various “stay at home” mandates in the fight to halt the coronavirus. But here’s one hint: Southern Californians get poor grades for their efforts if a new scorecard from Norwegian data crunchers is correct.

A grading system created by Unacast rates U.S. states and Washington, D.C., according to cell phone movement data. The results can help people weigh performance by comparing “social distancing activity to its activity prior,” the website states.

While this detailed data collection and analysis might creep you out for its lack of privacy, how else would we get real-time information? The most recent grades, updated daily with a four-day lag in time, are through March 27.

How’d did Unacast do it? Their efforts are based on map-linked math that estimates how much (or how little) movement has slowed in a region. Obviously, that’s doesn’t track the full picture: Fewer moves to possibly dangerous locations don’t necessarily lower overall risk. Still, it’s intriguing math.

“This is a pro bono initiative,” Jeanne Meyer, a spokesperson for Unacast, told Recode. “They have 25 data scientists that took five years’ work and spent four days cooking this thing up to help with what’s happening.”

Unacast’s paying gigs include real estate software that looks at what’s neighborhoods are hot in this same cell-phone tracking sense.

For social distancing math, Unacast offers three metrics: change in average mobility based on distance traveled; change in non-essential visits (the company does map-based marketing, so they know where you’re going); and a final grade that combines the two metrics.

Let’s start at the national level. Unacast says Americans overall have cut mobility by a stunning 40% to 55%, a C grade. Non-essential visits are down 60% to 65%, a C grade. Together, those cutbacks earn an overall C grade. That’s a middle-of-the-pack benchmark.

California paralleled the nation with three C grades, the 11th highest among the states. Best? The national seat of government: Washington, D.C. Worst? Wyoming, a lightly populated state with few coronavirus cases.

In Southern California, Orange County got the best grades with a B- (minus) for lowering mobility and a C for cutting non-essential trips. The county’s overall grade was a B-. Los Angeles County got C grades across the three categories.

The Inland Empire fared poorly on Unacast’s scorecard. But considering the region’s huge logistics industry stocking the region with essential items, a rare booming business in the coronavirus era, these may be unfair gradings.

Riverside County got a D for lowered mobility, a C for cutting non-essential trips and and overall C-.

San Bernardino County got an F for lowered mobility, a D for cutting non-essential trips and D-minus overall.

But this same data suggests “stay at home” orders do have an impact on mobility. Top California grades came from the Bay Area with its strict “stay in place” mandates: Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties all got A- grades.

CSUF News Service

At a time when people around the world are feeling anxious about the new coronavirus pandemic, Speaker of the California State Assembly Anthony Rendon spent a candid hour video conferencing about the topic and more with political science students from his alma mater, Cal State Fullerton.

“Politics and Policy Making in America,” taught by Associate Professor of Political Science Sarah Hill, typically offers students such immersive experiences as visiting the State Capitol and meeting with Titan alumni working in politics.

With in-person meetings no longer viable, Rendon, who has two degrees from Cal State Fullerton, a bachelor’s (1992) and a master’s (1994) in political science, logged into the online class via Zoom March 24 to field student questions and share his own journey to politics.

“Before the pandemic, students learned general theories and concepts about the policymaking process, as well as the basics of California government and the state legislature,” said Hill. “We’re now going to use those concepts to watch how the government responds to COVID-19.

“I’ve encouraged students to pay careful attention to how the federal government and states  are working together (or not), the role of executive leadership, how each level of government is responding, how policy is being made in a crisis and how that’s similar to or different from the normal policymaking process,” she explained.

“My hope is that students develop a greater appreciation for the role of government and why we need passionate, highly qualified people working at all levels of government. Public service is honorable, necessary and critical for society.”

Below is a snapshot of the conversation between Rendon and students:

How is the pandemic affecting the priorities of your office?

There are about 1,100 people working in the Capitol on a daily basis. Now there are about seven people in the building, including me. The work has changed. I think we had something like 3,300 bills introduced this year; when we get back to session, we may have time to hear 600 or 700 of those bills. Right now we’re prioritizing coronavirus as a policy area.

How is government working to address the coronavirus pandemic?

The state authorized the governor to spend $1 billion on the coronavirus pandemic, exclusively for health-related issues. The federal relief package will start to address issues outside of the health care field. In the long term, it’s the economy that’s going to be ruined. There are going to be businesses that I’m never going to see open again in my district. And to a large extent, I think that’s up to us as Californians to fix. I don’t know that the federal government will help California in that way.

Why is it important for people to answer the census and to be engaged in politics?

The census is incredibly important in getting an accurate count of how many Californians there are. It determines the percentage of funds we get for social programs, transportation, veterans, housing programs, education and everything you can think of that comes from the federal government. In terms of being engaged in politics, what I always say is that there are a lot of ways to be involved. Knowing about the political system doesn’t just prepare you for a job in politics; it prepares you to be a good and involved citizen.

How is government working to address the homelessness crisis and affordable housing?

At the state level, a lot of what we can do is allocate funding. The application of those funds and the administering those funds is really at the local level. Affordable housing for young people is definitely on our radar as well. It’s amazing how our society has become divided between people who own property and those who don’t. I think those divisions, and the levels of resentment that develop as a result, threaten our social fabric.

How can students have a voice in educational policy decisions?

By virtue of being speaker, I serve on the Cal State Board of Trustees and the UC Board of Regents. The Cal State Board of Trustees meets in Long Beach, and I really encourage you to attend those meetings and to get involved. When we go to those meetings, it’s great to see 40 to 50 students there, but it’s usually the same ones. To see new faces and to make sure that we’re hearing from you is really important, now more than ever.

What advice do you have for students who are soon graduating and looking to enter the workforce during an economic downturn?

Jobs related to our aging population or early childhood education tend to be fairly stable. I think those are two areas of the economy where you’re going to see job growth continue to happen, or at least the decrease won’t be as bad. Where you’re going to see problems is anything relating to expendable income — the arts, entertainment, tech, tourism, travel, eating out — those areas are going to be hit hard.

Giveon just released his first EP on a major label and sings the hook on Drake’s new song, but it was a steady singing gig his mom procured that the Long Beach crooner credits for developing his smooth baritone voice.

In order to develop his talent as a kid, she made him sing at every family birthday party, although he didn’t have a say when it came to the set list.

“I thought it would be more than that, but I was literally just singing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song. So after years of just singing that it just honed my craft. I didn’t know that would happen, so I call my mom Mr. Miyagi,” said the 25-year-old singer who released his debut EP “Take Time,” on March 27.

The eight-song EP on Epic Records mixes R&B and soul with some hip-hop elements in songs inspired by past romantic relationships and the painful breakups he experienced in his hometown.

“Whenever someone hears my music and they want to know where the soul and songs come from, it’s just from me growing up in Long Beach and that being embedded in me. It comes out in my songs,” Giveon said.

The Long Beach Poly High School graduate developed his love of music from listening to his mother play songs by Mary J. Blige, Sade and Anita Baker as she cleaned the house.

“She played those songs all day so I had no choice but to sing along and then she just noticed I was able to stay in key and keep a note,” he said.

Giveon did eventually move on from his early days of only singing the birthday song.

He started writing his own songs as a teen while looking up to R&B artists such as San Pedro native Miguel and Frank Ocean before gaining inspiration from a legendary artist.

During those teenage years, Giveon attended a Grammy Museum music camp through a Long Beach program for low-income families. At the camp, an instructor took notice of his vocal abilities and advised him to check out Frank Sinatra.

“That was my first experience with a baritone singer. From there I found confidence in my voice,” he said.

Fast rise

While his new EP is called “Take Time,” a lot has happened for Giveon in a short time. About a year ago, he met producer Sevn Thomas, who has worked with artists like Rihanna, Drake and Travis Scott.

That led to the release of two songs, “Heartbreak Anniversary” and  “Like I Want You,” plus a spot opening for L.A.-based Swedish singer Snoh Aalegra on tour.

And on his new EP his hometown finds its way into the songs immediately with the first track called “The Beach.”

“All my songs are based on true stories…the first song is essentially me reflecting on the idea of bringing a girl to the hood and not knowing how she would react to that,” he said.

In addition to his own music, Giveon’s gained some steam thanks to his guest spot on Drake’s new song “Chicago Freestyle.” Giveon opens the track in an emotive voice, singing “Two-thirty, baby, won’t you meet me by The Bean? Too early, maybe later you can show me things,” before Drake launches into the song.

Since he’s a newcomer on the scene, some Drake fans may have thought the guest voice on the song belonged to frequent collaborator Sampha. But Giveon made sure there was no more confusion about who’s voice that is or where it comes from.

“That’s not Sampha!! That’s me!! Spread the word!!,” the 25-year-old singer posted on Twitter shortly after Drake’s song came out in late February.

That’s not Sampha!! That’s me!! Spread the word!!

— Giveon (@giveon) March 1, 2020

And while working with Drake has earned him a lot of new attention and new fans, he hopes it will also bring positive attention to his city.

“It just felt great (working with Drake), especially coming from where I come from in Long Beach you don’t really see stuff like that. So I’m just taking it day by day and just really being appreciative of the opportunity and I just want to make sure other kids from Long Beach see it,” he said.

The Eat Index: OC is a weekly newsletter that lands in your inbox on Wednesdays. Subscribe here.

Main Course

What happens when spots where you normally find food trucks — such as fairgrounds, breweries and governmental buildings — empty out or are closed because of the novel coronavirus? Food trucks across Southern California are grappling with a decrease in business and not being able to park at their usual spots, but they’re coming up with some creative solutions. Read more in this piece by Fielding Buck.

Eat of The Moment 

Thinking outside the tap 

Southern California’s breweries have also had to get creative. They’re not only offering services such as in-brewery and curbside pickup and delivery, but also encouraging their guests to buy items such as T-shirts and gift cards to stay afloat. Kelli Skye Fadroski has more.

Deep discounts and freebies

If you’re sensing a trend here, it’s probably that businesses centered around food and drink have had to do things very differently during the coronavirus pandemic. Chain restaurants have been pulling out all the stops, including selling groceries and offering deep discounts, family meals and even free cheesecake to entice customers. Read more. 

Taco Maria takes time off 

One of Orange County’s only two Michelin-starred restaurants, Taco Maria, had been offering takeout but is now temporarily closing in the midst of the novel coronavirus, according to a statement posted on social media. Read more. 

Happy hour to helping hands

Lately it’s been hard to find sanitizer on shelves anywhere so distilleries, which obviously have a lot of alcohol on hand, are stepping up. Two Orange County distilleries have been making sanitizer so it can get out to communities that need it, including the homeless, first responders, volunteers and medical professionals. Read more. 

This Week’s Recipe 

If you have a pantry stockpiled with beans, it’s their time to shine. Cathy Thomas has a list of recipes you can make with the legumes, including salsa and white bean bruschetta with sugar snap peas. Read more. 

 1. Cut off the old fern fronds nearly to the ground, so new ones, called fiddleheads, can come up unencumbered. Clean out any dead leaves from other plants as well. For instance, the old flower stems and leaf bases on birds of paradise become unsightly with time can be removed fairly easily with a sideways tug. Even houseplants, such as parlor palms, look better with some grooming. Remove dead leaf bases after they have dried. This cleanup treatment makes a wonderful, refreshing difference in the appearance of many plants.

2. Aphids multiply quickly in springtime, sapping the strength from a wide array of plants and producing sticky honeydew. Aphids are easily controlled with an abundance of ladybugs, or by periodic applications of insecticidal soap or malathion. However, you may also need to put out ant baits in order to solve the problem. Believe it or not, ants protect and nurture aphids, gently “milking” them for their sweet honeydew secretions. So do your best to keep those ants under control.

3. Keep ahead of fungus ailments on roses and fruit trees, by spraying with fungicide every ten days until mid-June. Typical spring fungus diseases in Southern California are powdery mildew, rose rust, and blackspot on roses, and botrytis or brown rot on fruit trees needs to be prevented with springtime sprays. Effective spray materials have triforine or chlorothalonil as the active ingredient. They work by keeping fungi from spreading to new growth.

4. Apply the second of four feedings for mature citrus trees as soon as possible. The first should have been applied in February, and after this one, additional feedings should be done in late April/May and again in the latter part of June. For each feeding apply 0.4 pound of actual nitrogen per tree per year, spread all around the drip line. Since one pound of any dry fertilizer equals about two cups, that means each mature tree should get about six cups of 15-15-15 plant food, or four cups of ammonium sulfate (formula 21-0-0), two overflowing cups of ammonium nitrate (formula 34-0-0), or 1.5 cups of urea (formula 46-0-0), each time you apply it.

5. Camellias perform best with a springtime feeding, using a slower acting, balanced plant food. There may also be time to do some light pruning, if necessary, before new growth emerges. This season has been relatively free of petal blight, the damp-weather fungus disease that causes camellia flowers to turn brown and rot. However, wise gardeners will remove dead and fallen camellia flowers, since they tend to harbor spores that could rekindle the fungus next season.

Roberto Baldoquin, one of the most significant misjudgments of Jerry Dipoto’s tenure as Angels general manager, has been released.

Baldoquin, 25, never made it higher than Double-A, hitting .241 with a .612 OPS in his minor-league career. His release occurred just before a roster freeze last week, and was reported by Baseball America.

The Angels signed the Cuban infielder in January 2015 for an $8 million bonus, which exceeded their spending limit and triggered taxes that brought the total cost to about $15 million. The penalties also included limits on international spending for the next two years.

At the time the Angels signed Baldoquin, Dipoto suggested the then-20-year-old had advanced skills and was likely to make the major leagues within two years. He suffered through injuries in his first couple seasons and never was able to find any level of consistent performance.

Making the Baldoquin signing all the more frustrating for Angels fans, it resulted in the Angels being unable to sign premium international amateurs in July 2015 or 2016. The Toronto Blue Jays signed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in July 2015.

Some who were around the Angels at the time insist that Guerrero, the son of the Angels Hall of Famer, had already decided to sign with the Blue Jays before the Angels took themselves out of the running by signing Baldoquin.

Santa Ana police are searching for suspects who shot into a car of people Wednesday night, killing one woman.

Shortly after 9:30 p.m., officers were called to a shooting in an alley at 2100 West Myrtle Street, said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

The officers found the crime scene but did not find a victim, police said. A few minutes later at about 9:40 p.m. a group of people in a car arrived at a hospital with a woman who had been shot.

Doctors and medical personnel took the woman, believed to be in her 20s, into the hospital where they tried to save her, Bertagna said. She was pronounced dead at about 9:46 p.m. Her name was withheld pending family notification.

Bertagna said investigators believe the shooting to be gang-related. It appears the victim was in the car at the alley, adjacent to apartment buildings, with others when unknown suspects shot inside the vehicle. The occupants inside the vehicle were detained and questioned, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide investigators at 714-245-8390‬ or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

Laguna Beach City Manager John Pietig has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is self-isolating at home, according to the city.

“I am in good spirits, will continue to work from home and expect to make a full recovery,” Pietig said in a statement.

Pietig participated via the Zoom conferencing service in the Tuesday, March 31, Laguna Beach City Council meeting.

During that meeting, some residents expressed concern the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus reported by the county in Laguna Beach were proportionally higher than other cities in Orange County.

According to the OC Health Care Agency update on April 1,  Laguna Beach has the highest number of confirmed cases per capita in Orange County. The seaside town has 25 cases reported among a population base of 23,358. That’s at least 1 case per thousand residents.

“We’re a more transient community where people come here to our beaches,” said Councilman Peter Blake, who early on was one of the most vocal in calling for a closure of the city’s beaches. On March 23, Laguna Beach was the first city in Orange County to close its beaches, trailheads and parks.

“We do have some early testing places,” Blake said. “We’re also a more health-conscious community and test earlier.”

On Tuesday, the City Council also announced the weekly Farmer’s Market held near City Hall on Saturdays will be closed indefinitely.

Pietig, like much of the city staff, has been working from home for at least the last nine days.

Blake said he was surprised to hear of Pietig’s positive result.

“He’s never exhibited any symptoms,” Blake said, adding he was last physically near Pietig during the city’s March 17 City Council meeting.

“John has done an incredible job,” Blake said. “I don’t know if he’s had a day off.”

Who’s right? Both are well-respected and reputable.

A real estate trade association chief economist and a 44-year mortgage industry researcher and analyst are predicting entirely different conclusions about where the median home price lands by the end of 2020 as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic.

“By year end, maybe no meaningful change to median home price for the country as a whole,” said National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun when asked about 2020 year-end median home prices. “That assumes some rebound in jobs and private sector income after the precipitous fall in the second quarter.”

The upper end of the market, Yun conceded, is likely to experience a modest price decline.

But Tom LaMalfa, president of Cleveland-based TSL Consulting, sees dramatic danger for leveraged homeowners.

“Home prices will drop 20% to 30% over the course of this calendar year,” said LaMalfa.

Long before the 2008 bailout and government conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, LaMalfa was sounding a similar leverage alarm about the two mortgage giants. LaMalfa predicted F & F would create major problems for all stakeholders with their risky positions, having so little capital. Fannie and Freddie remain in government conservatorship and will be there for the foreseeable future.

Other views?

“No forecasting until we get more clarity on government programs,” said John Burns, CEO of John Burns Real Estate Consulting. “I think the government will come to the rescue and throw the sink at this.”

The California Association of Realtors is currently updating its forecast which was not available by press time.

My view: I’m worried about median home prices dropping 15% by the end of 2020.

In the past few weeks, I’ve taken more than two dozen calls from clients and column readers with high anxiety about their jobs and businesses. How will they continue to make their house payments?

More disturbing than those conversations was the March 24 blog post by St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank economist Miguel Faria-Castro estimating potential unemployment of more than 32%.

How are some buyers and sellers reacting since the coronavirus lockdown started?

To my own admitted surprise, we have not seen any letup at my shop. We are receiving a steady number of new purchase mortgages as new purchase escrows continue to open. And, not a single cancellation (coronavirus related or otherwise) so far.

What we are also seeing is an almost insurmountable amount of coronavirus-related challenges to get both purchase and refinance mortgages funded. Here is just a sampling of the stressors:

1. The Internal Revenue Service has temporarily stopped validating the accuracy of tax returns for mortgage lenders. This is especially challenging when it comes to self-employed borrowers. The good news is many lenders have workarounds.
2. Mortgage payoff demand statements, HOA documents, employment verifications subordination agreements are taking several weeks in some cases.
3. Property access is a challenge when interior home inspections and interior appraisal inspections may be required.
4. Mortgage companies largely do not have sufficient staffing to manage the current heavy refinance application volume. Working remotely creates additional delays and obstacles for underwriters and loan processors.
5. Pre-funding employment verifications and still-in-business company verifications add that much more lender detective work.

Besides being thankful and grateful to those on the coronavirus frontlines, please thank those underwriters, funders, loan processors and escrow officers who are maintaining housing transaction commerce and getting your desperately needed cash out.

Freddie Mac rate news: The 30-year fixed-rate averaged 3.33%, down 17 basis points from last week to the fifth-lowest rate in 49 years. The 15-year fixed-rate averaged 2.92%, 10 basis points lower than last week.

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported a 15.3% decrease in loan application volume from one week earlier.

Bottom line: Assuming a borrower gets the average 30-year fixed rate on a conforming $510,400 loan, last year’s payment was $216 more than this week’s payment of $2,244.

What I see: Locally, well-qualified borrowers can get the following fixed-rate mortgages without points: A 30-year FHA (up to $442,750 in the Inland Empire, up to $510,400 in Los Angeles and Orange counties) at 3%, a 15-year conventional at 3.375%, a 30-year conventional at 3.5%, a 30-year conventional high-balance ($510,401 to $765,600) at 3.875%, and a 30-year jumbo (over $765,600) at 5.25%.

Eye catcher loan of the week: A 30-year conventional, adjustable-rate locked in for five years at 2.625% for a two-point cost.

Jeff Lazerson is a mortgage broker and adjunct professor at Saddleback College. He can be reached at 949-334-2424 or jlazerson@mortgagegrader.com. His website is www.mortgagegrader.com.

A judge’s decision about whether or not to dismiss a high-profile criminal cases against a Newport Beach surgeon and his girlfriend accused of drugging and raping several women has been delayed due to court closures related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Judge Gregory Jones has delayed until early June a hearing previously set for Friday to discuss a request by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office to dismiss charges against Dr. Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer in early February made the surprise announcement that his office would seek a dismissal of the case, which had drawn international attention. Spitzer cited a lack of evidence and alleged mismanagement of the case by his predecessor.

Robicheaux and Riley have denied that any non-consensual sex occurred. In a televised interview with ABC News shortly after the DA announced his intention to seek a dismissal of the charges, Robicheaux described it as “consenting adults that were having a great time.”

Attorneys representing some of the alleged victims have urged Judge Jones not to dismiss the charges, warning that such a move would be a “disaster for justice” and suggesting the state attorney general’s office either step in to prosecute the case or appoint a special prosecutor.

During a Feb. 7 hearing, an apparently skeptical Judge Jones told the attorney’s that he needed more details before deciding whether to dismiss the case. The judge ordered the prosecutors, the defense attorneys and the attorneys for the alleged victims to file briefs under seal outlining for him the full evidence in the case.

In a more recent hearing, prior to the coronavirus-related court closures, Jones had indicated that he planned to hear arguments for and against a dismissal of the charges during a court hearing and then at a later time release a written order outlining his decision.

Robicheaux and Riley were initially accused of using their good looks to meet women in bars and restaurants in Newport Beach, then drugging them and luring them back to Robicheaux’s apartment in order to sexually assault them. Each is facing three counts of kidnapping with intent to commit a sexual offense, among other charges connected to seven alleged victims.

During the February hearing, Spitzer told the judge that an exhaustive review of the case found “not a single piece of evidence or video or photo that shows an unconscious or incapacitated woman being sexually assaulted.”

Attorney’s for the alleged victim’s have sharply questioned the DA’s conclusion, noting, among other things, that a large amount of GHB – which the attorneys note is well known as “the date rape drug” – was allegedly found at Robicheaux’s home. Defense attorneys for the couple have disputed how much GHB was found at the residence.

The hearing to discuss the evidence related to the request to dismiss the charges is now scheduled for June 5.

It is important to be informed, connected and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. While isolated at home you can turn to technology to stay mentally and physically healthy during this stressful and unpredictable time.

Fear and loneliness are just a few of the significant concerns people face while practicing social distancing. Issues with access to food and other essential supplies pose barriers to healthy eating that also heighten stress. In addition, with gyms shuttered and public parks rightfully abandoned, many people are having to rethink their physical activity routine. Coping with so many unexpected and unwelcome lifestyle changes requires new skills, tools and some creative thinking.

Stay Connected

Staying mentally stimulated and connected to others is vital during stressful times. Video calls using Skype, Zoom and FaceTime, for example, are an important tool to help us communicate face-to-face while maintaining separation. Video chatting tech solutions help us interact with friends, family and coworkers in a more personal way while in quarantine. Doctors and other healthcare providers are offering telemedicine services so patients can seek medical attention without the need to meet in person.

To stay intellectually stimulated, consider signing up for online classes and webinars. Some of the top schools and universities are offering free courses online. Class Central offers around 500 Ivy League courses online for free. Scholastic is a free digital learning site to support students with online learning plans during school closure. Consider checking out the websites and social media accounts of some of your favorite musicians and performers who may be live-streaming at-home concerts for fans.

Eat Healthfully

Infectious disease experts report that coronavirus is particularly contagious because it can be spread not only from person-to-person, but also from touching contaminated objects and surfaces. There’s no doubt that access to essential items like food and medicine are a real challenge due to the need to minimize the spread of the virus. Many grocery stores are helping older folks who are at higher risk for illness shop safely by offering senior shopping hours.

For some people, having others do their grocery shopping for them is a smart choice. This is the time to take advantage of delivery services like Amazon Fresh, Instacart and other grocery store delivery options. Companies like Farmbox Direct and Farm Fresh to You offer produce delivery so you can keep eating your fresh fruit and veggies. Keep in mind that food delivery services continue to work out the kinks in their systems and supply chains to meet the unique consumer demands during this public health crisis.

Be Active

Let’s be honest, it’s not fun to be cooped up inside all day. Interestingly, there are still countless options for exercise while maintaining social distance, especially if you turn to technology. In fact, with social schedules freed up and work commutes a thing of the past, now there is more time than ever to get in some extra workouts.

Many fitness studios are live-streaming workout classes while their brick-and-mortar locations are closed down. Apps and online workouts on sites like Youtube are good sources for at-home fitness that requires minimal or no equipment. Remember that many outdoor exercises like walking and cycling are perfectly safe to engage in for those who are not quarantined due to illness when necessary social distancing and personal hygiene practices are followed. If you have chronic health problems, speak to your physician before starting an exercise regimen.

As you create a new routine to meet your physical and emotional needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, take advantage of technological solutions to enrich your life and keep you safe, healthy and connected.

LeeAnn Weintraub, MPH, RD is a registered dietitian, providing nutrition counseling and consulting to individuals, families and organizations. She can be reached by email at RD@halfacup.com.

Huntington Beach must continue to abide by “sanctuary state” law after California’s highest court let stand an appellate court decision.

The California Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 1, declined without comment to hear the city’s challenge to a state law that limits police collaboration with federal immigration agents.

In January, California’s 4th District Court of Appeals overturned a lower court’s ruling that allowed Huntington Beach to ignore the California Values Act.

The Huntington Beach City Council voted in April 2018 to sue the state over the then-new law. Huntington Beach argued its status as a charter city gives it ultimate control over its Police Department.

Six months later, an Orange County Superior Court judge agreed with Huntington Beach. But the legal battle continued after the state and the American Civil Liberties Union filed an appeal of the decision.

The three-judge Court of Appeals unanimously overturned the lower court’s opinion, deeming the law “constitutional as applied to charter cities because it addresses matters of statewide concern,”

The California Supreme Court denies most requests for reconsideration of lower-court decisions.

“This is tragic for the rule of law and for local control efforts,” Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates said in an email, adding that “the state will continue to erode local city control.”

In its written decision earlier this year, the California Court of Appeals ordered the city to pay the appellants’ costs. Gates said he is unaware of any such expenses the city could incur.

The English Premier League was suspended indefinitely on Friday following a meeting of its 20 clubs, who discussed financial painkiller measures including asking players to take a substantial pay cut during the coronavirus outbreak.

Having previously given a tentative – and improbable – return date of April 30, the world’s richest league said the season would not be resuming at the start of May and “will only return when it is safe and appropriate to do so,” and only with the full support of government and medical guidance.

Teams have nine or 10 games left to play in the Premier League, with Liverpool – the leader by 25 points – still needing two more wins to clinch its first title since 1990. The FA Cup is at the quarterfinal stage.

“There is a combined objective for all remaining domestic league and cup matches to be played,” the league said, “enabling us to maintain the integrity of each competition.”

UEFA, in a letter signed by the European Club Association and the European Leagues, has urged members not to abandon their competitions. Halting leagues without approval from UEFA could see teams blocked from qualifying for the Champions League and Europa League as they are determined based on final positions in domestic standings.

The meeting, which was held by video conference, came at the end of a week when Premier League players came under growing pressure to forego some of their salaries to help protect the jobs of club staff. Tottenham and Newcastle are among those to have furloughed non-playing staff during soccer’s shutdown and, on Thursday, British health secretary Matt Hancock called on Premier League players to “take a pay cut and play their part.”

The league said clubs agreed to consult players over a wage deduction or deferral of 30% “in the face of substantial and continuing losses,” adding there would be meeting on Saturday between the players’ union, the league, players, and club representatives.

Talks were held separately on Friday between captains of the Premier League clubs over the creation of a fund to raise money for Britain’s National Health Service, which is being overwhelmed during the pandemic.

Following its meeting, the league said it was committing 20 million pounds ($24 million) to the NHS and other vulnerable groups.

In another financial commitment, the league voted to advance funds of 125 million pounds ($150 million) to clubs in the English Football League and fifth-tier National League, many of which are struggling to cope with the financial consequences of the suspension of matches.

That sum – which takes in solidarity payments, so-called “parachute payments” to teams relegated from the Premier League, and academy grants – would usually have been paid in August, the first month of the English season.

The EFL – the three divisions below the Premier League – and the Women’s Super League also were halted indefinitely.

“1917” (R, for violence, some disturbing images and language; available to buy on Amazon Prime, Fandango Now, Apple TV and Vudu) Director Sam Mendes, has similarly taken top technology — and the best cinematography, courtesy of Roger Deakins — to give us a compelling look at World War I through the eyes of two ordinary soldiers asked to perform an extraordinary task. The special sauce here, which you may have heard about: “1917” appears as if it were shot in one seamless take — or two, if you include one spot where it seems clear a break probably occurred. Yes, it’s a dazzling technical feat. One could also consider it a gimmick, or at least a method that threatens to distract the viewer’s attention. But that ignores the fact that this very filmmaking style is also hugely effective at delivering this particular story, in the most visceral way possible. (The Associated Press) 1 hour, 59 minutes. Grade: ****

“Bad Boys for Life” (R, for strong, bloody violence, language throughout, sexual references and brief drug use; available to buy on Amazon Prime, Fandango Now and Vudu) The third edition of the “Bad Boys” franchise starts as it must do: With a gleaming Porsche swerving at impossible speeds through Miami traffic under the expert control of Will Smith, with Martin Lawrence growing very sick beside him. All is good. So it’s so disappointing that the film soon swerves into weird neighborhoods and gets bloated as it tries to get deep. It’s oddly flat and unfunny and has strayed so far from its gritty roots that it might be called “Bad Boys for Life Insurance.”  (The Associated Press) 2 hours, 4 minutes. Grade: **

“Banana Split” (R, for crude sexual content and language throughout, drug and alcohol use — all involving teens; available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime, Fandango Now and Vudu) This comedy hits the ground running with a montage that recaps a two-year high school relationship. While most of the movie doesn’t run on fast-forward, it never quite loses its snap.The palette is candy colored and the screen is filled with text messages; the fleet cutting suits the breezy dialogue. Is this an empty indulgence or a comfortingly familiar confection? Probably both. (The New York Times) 1 hour, 28 minutes. No grade.

“Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” (R, for strong violence and language throughout, and some sexual and drug material; available to buy on Amazon Prime, Fandango Now and Vudu) As portrayed by the effortlessly charismatic Margot Robbie, Harley Quinn’s always gonna be the most interesting person in the room — or on the screen. Robbie is certainly killing it these days, and we’re not just talking about the escalating body count in this visually arresting and often clever — if not particularly profound — installment of the DC Extended Universe. Even though the Joker is all the rage these days, thanks to Joaquin Phoenix in that other movie, Harley proves a worthy subject of her own film (The Associated Press) 1 hour, 49 minutes. Grade: ***

“Cats” (PG, for some rude and suggestive humor; available to buy on Amazon Prime and Vudu) However you feel about “Cats” the show — and let’s face it, some love it and some hate it, EXACTLY as it will be with this film — give director Tom Hooper credit for assembling a cast that knows its way around a stage. This estimable group includes, along with theater veterans Judi Dench and Ian McKellen, music stars like Jennifer Hudson and Taylor Swift, who each make the most of one blockbuster number suited to their talents. Does all this work? Well, it depends on how you feel about … “Cats.” Did you love the show? You’ll find stuff to love here. Did you hate it? Ditto! Or maybe … you’ll have both reactions? (The Associated Press) 1 hour, 50 minutes. Grade: **/*

“Charlie’s Angels” (PG-13 for action/violence, language and some suggestive material; available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango Now or Vudu) What are we really looking for in a “Charlie’s Angels” movie after all? Not terribly much. Some good action, costumes and chemistry from the leads, perhaps. In other words, just entertain us. And in that respect, this 2019 “Charlie’s Angels” only partially succeeds. The action is fine and engaging but nothing we haven’t seen before. The costumes are fantastic. As for the chemistry? Well, it’s a little lacking.  (The Associated Press) 1 hour, 58 minutes. Grade: **

“Dolittle” (PG, for some action, rude humor and brief language; available to rent or by on Amazon Prime and Vudu) If they could speak, no realm of the animal kingdom — no penguin, parakeet or panda — would have anything good to say about this big-budget train wreck in which things go so awry that it can’t even be said to be strictly for the dogs. Perhaps the biggest disappointment isn’t the incoherent story line, the suffocating CGI or the unfunny stable of celebrity-voiced creatures. It’s that Robert Downey Jr.’s personality doesn’t come through at all, either a victim of the surrounding mess or a party to it. (The Associated Press) 1 hour, 41 minutes. Grade: *

“Emma.” (PG for brief partial nudity; available to buy on Amazon Prime, Fandango Now and Vudu) This latest adaptation of Jane Austen has been candied up with the sort of palette you see in certain old-fashioned confectionaries and in fussy Georgian-era restorations. With a rosy blush in her cheeks, her satiny ribbons and bows, Emma (Anya Taylor-Joy) herself looks as lovingly adorned and tempting as a Christmas delectable, though whether she bears any relation to Austen’s Emma is another matter. Everything — the pea greens and dusky pinks, the comic looks and misunderstandings — has been emphatically embellished, so much so that it initially seems that director Autumn de Wilde has adapted the material using Wes Anderson software. (The New York Times) 2 hours, 5 minutes. No grade.

“The Gentlemen” (R, for violence, language throughout, sexual references and drug content; available to buy on Amazon Prime and Vudu) The latest from the excitable British director Guy Ritchie gives you exactly what you might expect from a Guy Ritchie movie that hasn’t been constrained by studio decorousness (and ratings) or suavely tricked out with big-Hollywood cash. It’s talky and twisty, as usual, but also exuberantly violent (rather than PG-13 safe) and mischievously — or just aggressively — offensive. Mostly the movie is about Ritchie’s own conspicuous pleasure directing famous actors having a lark, trading insults, making mischief. There’s not much else, which depending on your mood and the laxity of your ethical qualms, might be enough. (The New York Times) 1 hours, 53 minutes. No grade.

“The Hunt” (R, for strong bloody violence and language throughout; available to buy on Amazon Prime, Fandango Now or Vudu) This horror-thriller with a healthy side of political commentary was pulled from release last summer following backlash to its trailer depicting a group of wealthy, liberal Americans kidnapping and hunting down red-state stereotypes for fun. It’s an unstylish and heavy-handed horror-thriller that turns into a revenge gore-fest as it mocks everyone with a big clumsy paw. (The Associated Press) 1 hour, 30 minutes. Grade: **

“The Invisible Man” (R, for some strong bloody violence and language; available to buy on Amazon Prime, Fandango Now and Vudu) Unraveling the dusted bandages of H.G. Wells’ classic 1897 science-fiction novel, writer-director Leigh Whannell has refashioned it as a bracingly modern #MeToo allegory that, despite its brutal craft, rings hollow. A pervasive terror cloaks the movie. It’s elevated considerably by Elisabeth Moss, delivering a portrait of a woman desperately clawing for her freedom, but haunted by the specter, real or imagined, of her terrorizing ex. Whannell has the talent and cunning to turn this into a chilling and well-crafted B-movie. But if you’re looking for anything more than that, you’ll probably come up empty.  (The Associated Press) 2 hours, 4 minutes. Grade: **/*

“Jumanji: The Next Level” (PG-13, for adventure action, suggestive content and some language; available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime, Apple TV or Vudu) The creators of this sequel have begun from an age-old premise — if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And they’ve taken note of other successful franchises to adopt what must surely be a new Hollywood motto — just add more. So this film brings together the same director, writers and actors who made the 2017 reboot so fun and then layers in more stars — Danny Glover, Danny DeVito and Awkwafina — plus more locations and special effects. The result is a largely successful, if more unbalanced ride. It’s also oddly wistful and melancholic. (The Associated Press) 2 hours, 3 minutes. Grade: **/*

“Just Mercy” (PG-13 for thematic content, including some racial epithets; available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime, Fandango Now and Vudu) This is the real story of civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson and his fight to keep an innocent black man from being executed. It is urgent, searing and powerful, led by a first-rate cast. Though it portrays events more than 25 years ago, it is very much a film of 2019. “Just Mercy” is not always an easy film to watch, but it is necessary. (The Associated Press) 2 hours, 17 minutes. Grade: ***

“Onward” (PG, for action/peril and some mild thematic elements; available to buy on Amazon Prime, Fandango Now and Vudu) In New Mushroomton, a Los Angeles-like sprawl of suburbs and freeways,once magical creatures like trolls, gnomes, elves and dragons live an orderly and predicable life much like our own, just with unicorns always getting in the trash and pixies that ride in biker gangs. The film’s eccentric odyssey of two brothers delving into a fantastical past to find their way through grief and self-doubt is a worthy addition to Pixar’s canon.  (The Associated Press) 1 hour, 43 minutes. Grade: ***

“Queen & Slim” (R, for violence, some strong sexuality, nudity, pervasive language and brief drug use; available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime, Apple TV or Fandango Now) Rarely has a Tinder date ended so poorly than the one shown here. Even more rarely has a bad Tinder date produced such a great film. This is a romance and a road movie, a film about outlaws on the run, two journeys of self-discovery and a nuanced social commentary. It’s not perfect but it’s close — an urgent, beautiful and socially conscious trip through the American racial psyche in 2019. (The Associated Press) 2 hours, 12 minutes. Grade: ***/*

“Richard Jewell” (R, for some sexual references and brief bloody images; available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime, Fandango Now, Apple TV or Vudu) This is a typically strong late-period Clint Eastwood docudrama that balances grand American themes while captivatingly dramatizing the villainization of the Atlanta Olympics bombing hero, only to needlessly tarnish itself with a wanton and unfounded depiction of a female journalist at the center of the 1996 media storm. It’s a shame because the rest is often thought-provoking with a singular protagonist.If Eastwood had extended the sensitivity the film shows to Jewell to others, it might have been worth something more. Instead, it becomes just what it preaches against: a hatchet job. (The Associated Press) 2 hours, 9 minutes. Grade: */*

“Sonic the Hedgehog” (PG, for action, some violence, rude humor and brief mild language; available to buy on Amazon Prime, Fandango Now and Vudu) The little blue alien who can sprint quicker than the speed of light has ironically benefited from slowing it down, taking a pit stop to retool and emerge as a total crowd-pleaser. Respectful of the rich history of the brand and yet welcoming to newcomers, this is a feel-good buddy movie for both adults and their own little aliens. “Nailed it!” screams Sonic at one point and that might be a fitting summary for the film. (The Associated Press) 1 hour, 39 minutes. Grade: ***/*

“Spies in Disguise” (PG, for action, violence and rude humor; available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime, Fandango Now, Apple TV or Vudu) Will Smith voices an “is there anything he can’t do?” secret agent whose massive skills are dwarfed by his humongous ego in “Spies in Disguise,” a colorful but not very eye-opening animated offering from the studio that brought us the “Ice Age” diversions. The lessons are so treacly, and their delivery method so single-minded, that the Valley Girl phrase “gag me with a spoon” springs to mind.  (The New York Times) 1 hour, 41 minutes. No grade.

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (PG-13, for sci-fi violence and action; available to buy on Amazon Prime, Fandango Now or Vudu) Not much has caused a disturbance in the “Star Wars” galaxy quite like Rian Johnson’s “The Last Jedi,” an erratic but electric movie that, regardless of how you felt about it, was something worth arguing about. The same can’t be said for J. J. Abrams’ scattershot, impatiently paced, fan-servicing finale that repurposes so much of what came before that it feels as though someone searching for the hyperspace button accidentally pressed the spin cycle instead. For a movie predicated on satisfying fans, “The Rise of Skywalker” is a distinctly unsatisfying conclusion to what had been an imperfect but mostly good few films. (The Associated Press) 2 hours, 22 minutes. Grade: **

“Uncut Gems” (R, for pervasive strong language, violence, some sexual content and brief drug use; available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango Now and Vudu) It’s obvious that Adam Sandler is capable of extraordinary range — not in the traditional, Meryl Streep sense, but a range of incredibly good (“Punch-Drunk Love”) to painfully bad (the horrendous “Jack and Jill”) and incredibly good again, as in this frenetic, compulsively watchable, exhausting and exhilarating collaboration with Josh and Benny Safdie. Sandler deserves the accolades he’s getting, again proving that with the right material, he has an uncanny ability to reach deep within us, despite our deep, DEEP annoyance. (The Associated Press) 2 hours, 15 minutes. Grade: ***/*

By Courtney Maum

Last month at a skeleton-crew version of the Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference known as AWP, I gave a talk to its Writer to Writer mentorship program about control.

Among the attendees, anxiety prevailed. Would frequent hand-washing be enough to keep this COVID-19 thing at bay? Would literary agents ever open up their inboxes again? What would a writing life in limbo look like or even mean?

Book writers in America pray before the altar of Things We Can’t Control: starred trade reviews, celebrity book club selections, bookstagram attention, radio interviews, podcast and festival invitations, and above all, healthy sales.

This last desire is the most elusive one. In my latest book, “Before And After The Book Deal: A Writer’s Guide To Finishing, Publishing, Promoting And Surviving Your First Book Deal,” industry guru Jane Friedman said that writers should hope to sell three thousand books, not more, and that quote was given to me in 2018 well before the end times that we’re self-isolating in.

Between the global pandemic, the environment’s fragility and the ceaseless upsets of an election year, it’s pretty clear the only thing writers can do is to expect the unexpected. But who wants to do that? In a world out of control, it’s essential that we manage some aspect of our art-making.

And folks: it won’t be sales.

My vote goes to craft. While sharpening your writing skills isn’t going to supplement lost income or babysit your kids, it might just feel transgressive and wild enough to save your freaking soul. We’re all in this together in a way that has never been truer. There is something terrifying about that, certainly. But behind the fear and helplessness, there is room for creativity. There is room for craft.

Virtual book launches and call-in happy hours, celebrities drawing with your homeschooled children, virtual bookstore storefronts, free shipping and discounts from your favorite indie bookstores, online writing classes a go-go, an unprecedented hunger to experiment and share, this is the time to let our writing bolster us, to make craft our mental gym.

Here are some titles to give your writing mind a workout and keep you six feet from your phone.

“Consider This: Moments in My Writing Life after Which Everything Was Different” by Chuck Palahniuk

Whether you like him or actively go out of your way to avoid people who like him, Palahniuk’s hybrid memoir and writing advice guidebook is a rags-to-riches tale that celebrates perseverance and a dogged addiction to craft.

“Elements of Fiction” by Walter Mosley

A follow-up to Mosley’s renowned “This Year You Write Your Novel,” this prolific mystery writer shares candid tips about essential fiction elements such as character development, pacing, plot, and revelation.

“Meander, Spiral, Explode: Design and Pattern in Narrative” by Jane Alison

If you are sick to death of hearing about the “arc,” this is the book for you. Alison looks instead to patterns and waves in non-linear prose. A most refreshing read.

“Recollection of My Non-Existence: A Memoir” by Rebecca Solnit

The author of “Men Explain Things To Me” revisits how she found her voice, her art and her feminism in the not-particularly welcoming cultural climate of 1980s San Francisco. A hard-earned coming of age story that also celebrates the value of getting lost inside one’s dreams and mind.

“The Hidden Machinery: Essays on Writing” by Margot Livesey

Learning to write through critical reading is an approach near to my heart. Livesy’s insights into the mysteries of craft are intuitive, moving, and sly.

The Poets & Writers Complete Guide to Being a Writer: Everything You Need to Know About Craft, Inspiration, Agents, Editors, Publishing, and the Business of Building a Sustainable Writing Career by Kevin Larimer and Mary Gannon

The award-winning non-profit organization Poets & Writers pours 50 years of experience into this nuts-and-bolts guide to a career in writing.

And be on the lookout for this forthcoming book:

“Craft in the Real World” by Matthew Salesses

Part manifesto, part writing guide, this fantastic resource helps writers, teachers and students navigate challenges in the current writing workshop and craft model by showing how they fail marginalized writers, while celebrating diverse points of view in creative storytelling.

Regardless of the books you choose as your companions-in-Coronavirus times, independent bookstores desperately need your business—please buy books from them.

And don’t forget the backlist! Consider adding “Sister Outsider” by Audre Lorde, Dani Shapiro’s “Still Writing”, Jane Friedman’s “The Business of Being A Writer”, “Screenplay” by Syd Field,  “Dreyer’s English” by Benjamin Dreyer and Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird” to your book haul.

Courtney Maum is the author of three novels and the guidebook “Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer’s Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting and Surviving Your First Book Deal” out now from Catapult. You can sign up for her writing newsletter “Get Published, Stay Published” through CourtneyMaum.com

Coronavirus cases have been confirmed in four long-term care facilities in Long Beach, according to city officials.

Chelsey Finegan, a spokeswoman for Long Beach’s Joint Information Center, said the city would not share the number of cases that were identified at each facility “as the numbers may be constantly changing throughout this health emergency.”

The four facilities are:

• Bixby Knolls Towers;
• Long Beach Healthcare Center;
• Pacific Palms Healthcare; and
• Palmcrest Grand Assisted Living.

David Napierskie, vice president of health care operations for Retirement Housing Foundation, which oversees Bixby Knolls Towers, said a resident went to Long Beach Medical Center earlier this week and tested positive for the virus. The resident remains at the hospital but has not been placed on a ventilator, Napierskie said.

Napierskie said Bixby Knolls Towers — along with every other facility Retirement Housing Foundation operates nationwide — has followed guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to limit visitors in order to protect residents and staff.

“Our building is pretty much locked down, and people can only come in through one entry point, and they must be screened,” he said Friday morning, April 3. “We’re pretty much discouraging all visitation unless it’s critical — hospice pastors or other critical needs — but we do temperatures and we do questionnaires to validate they show no signs or symptoms.”

Christine Tomlinson, the administrator for Long Beach Healthcare Center, confirmed that COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, had been identified at the facility. But she declined to share more specific information, including how many cases.

“I can tell you it is in the facility, and we’re working with the local Health Department on their recommendations,” she said. ” We’re doing everything we can to ensure we stop the spread of this within the facility.”

Those steps include restricting visitors and canceling group activities, Tomlinson said.

Lance Haering, the administrator for Pacific Palms Healthcare in East Long Beach, said Thursday that one resident in that facility had contracted the virus.

Erin Rehbein, assistant administrator for Palmcrest Grand Assisted Living, said she would “not confirm or deny anything” regarding the reported case or cases of COVID-19.

“I need to protect my residents,” she said. Rehbein declined to comment further.

The news, which city officials shared late Thursday, came a day after Long Beach announced its first two cases of the virus in separate long-term care facilities. In all, Long Beach has confirmed 153 cases citywide.

City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis said Wednesday those locations “are considered very high risk because of the vulnerable populations that live there.”

COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019, is a respiratory disease that causes fever, a cough and trouble breathing. While most people will develop mild symptoms, the disease can cause more severe symptoms — and, as the increasing death toll illustrates, prove fatal — especially among the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

CDC guidelines for healthcare facilities treating those with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 include isolating the patient in a single-person room, with a dedicated bathroom, with the door closed. Those facilities should also restrict all visitors and unnecessary health care workers; cancel group activities and communal dining; and frequently clean and disinfect surfaces that are likely to be touched, including shared equipment, among other precautions.

“We are providing a lot of our resources toward identifying other people who may have symptoms” in those facilities, Davis said Wednesday, “and making sure we get them tested expeditiously and making sure we provide the proper (personal protective equipment) for residents and staff who are there in the facility.”

Q: We went to mediation. The mediator (a retired judge) kept saying that compromise is OK; you could lose, you will spend all that money — better to have a solution now and be done with it. Since we feel we are victims of misconduct by the other party, and have provable losses, why should we compromise?

-B.C., Monrovia

A: There is a saying: “A good settlement sends the parties home equally unhappy.” So if the parties reach a money settlement, one side feels it paid too much, and the other believes they got too little. Compromise in any given instance may be sensible, pragmatic and smart. Most civil claims are a gamble. When a client tells me he or she is doing the case “on principle,” I put it into my mindset, but know that attitude might be the client’s undoing. On occasion, I have seen cases where it seems very clear who is going to win, but winds up the opposite. As such, compromise involves weighing whether it is wiser to forego the risks, or continue dealing with the pros and cons of going forward. Compromise is not a dirty word; it a choice that carefully takes into consideration a number of important factors.

Q: We are going to settle a case, and want to be sure it is over once and for all. Is there language to make sure to have in the settlement agreement so we are done with this completely?

-P.H., Torrance

A: Yes, there is language that is very important to have in the settlement agreement. One clause that is often included is a waiver of California Civil Code Section 1542, which reads: “A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release and that, if known by him or her, would have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor or released party.” Bottom line, you want to have release language that waives Section 1542 so that claims, known, unknown, suspected, or unsuspected, are gone. Further, if appropriate, the releases should be applicable to you, your agents, heirs, devisees, attorneys and insurers, among others.

Ron Sokol is a Manhattan Beach attorney with more than 35 years of experience. His column, which appears in print on Wednesdays, presents a summary of the law and should not be construed as legal advice. Email questions and comments to him at RonSEsq@aol.com or write to him at Ask the Lawyer, Daily Breeze, 400 Continental Blvd, Suite 600, El Segundo, CA, 90245.