By | | Bay Area News GroupGov. Gavin Newsom visited an Alameda elementary school Tuesday that just welcomed kids back to classrooms this week to tout progress toward reopening campuses closed for the past year by the coronavirus pandemic.Of California’s nearly 11,000 public schools, the governor said about 9,000 have reopened or announced dates to reopen in coming weeks, up from fewer than 6,000 a few weeks ago.“We are seeing real progress, real momentum,” Newsom told reporters at Ruby Bridges Elementary School in the Alameda Unified School District, adding that the he negotiated with...…By | | Bay Area News GroupGov. Gavin Newsom visited an Alameda elementary school Tuesday that just welcomed kids back to classrooms this week to tout progress toward reopening campuses closed for the past year by the coronavirus pandemic.Of California’s nearly 11,000 public schools, the governor said about 9,000 have reopened or announced dates to reopen in coming weeks, up from fewer than 6,000 a few weeks ago.“We are seeing real progress, real momentum,” Newsom told reporters at Ruby Bridges Elementary School in the Alameda Unified School District, adding that the he negotiated with...WW…

By | | Bay Area News GroupGov. Gavin Newsom read to kids in a Palo Alto elementary classroom Tuesday where he pitched the plan he and legislative leaders hatched a day earlier to speed reopening of other public schools whose students have been stuck in online-only distance learning for months.Barron Park Elementary in the Palo Alto Unified School District was among the first public schools in the Bay Area to reopen to a hybrid blend of remote and in-person instruction last fall, and the governor hailed it a model for others to follow. The district will open grades 7-12 to hybrid learning...…By | | Bay Area News GroupGov. Gavin Newsom read to kids in a Palo Alto elementary classroom Tuesday where he pitched the plan he and legislative leaders hatched a day earlier to speed reopening of other public schools whose students have been stuck in online-only distance learning for months.Barron Park Elementary in the Palo Alto Unified School District was among the first public schools in the Bay Area to reopen to a hybrid blend of remote and in-person instruction last fall, and the governor hailed it a model for others to follow. The district will open grades 7-12 to hybrid learning...WW…

SARATOGA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Foothill Elementary School 1st graders study inside the multipurpose room at Foothill Elementary School on Feb. 10, 2021 in Saratoga, Calif. On Wednesday, some students returned to classrooms in the Saratoga Union Elementary District, which includes Foothill Elementary School, for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic forced their closure in March, 2020. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)As children in the tony enclave of Piedmont trotted into classrooms Wednesday, Jolanka Nickerman and her daughters gathered outside a shuttered elementary school in...…SARATOGA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Foothill Elementary School 1st graders study inside the multipurpose room at Foothill Elementary School on Feb. 10, 2021 in Saratoga, Calif. On Wednesday, some students returned to classrooms in the Saratoga Union Elementary District, which includes Foothill Elementary School, for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic forced their closure in March, 2020. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)As children in the tony enclave of Piedmont trotted into classrooms Wednesday, Jolanka Nickerman and her daughters gathered outside a shuttered elementary school in...WW…

FILE – In this Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, file photo, a pedestrian walks past a mural reading: “When out of your home, Wear a mask over your mouth and nose,” during the coronavirus outbreak in San Francisco. San Francisco is joining a statewide curfew and Silicon Valley is banning all high school, collegiate and professional sports and imposing a quarantine for those traveling into the region from more than 150 miles away. Santa Clara County has the highest case rate in the Bay Area, leading to the stricter rules, said Santa Clara County Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu,...…FILE – In this Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, file photo, a pedestrian walks past a mural reading: “When out of your home, Wear a mask over your mouth and nose,” during the coronavirus outbreak in San Francisco. San Francisco is joining a statewide curfew and Silicon Valley is banning all high school, collegiate and professional sports and imposing a quarantine for those traveling into the region from more than 150 miles away. Santa Clara County has the highest case rate in the Bay Area, leading to the stricter rules, said Santa Clara County Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu,...WW…

By | and | | Bay Area News GroupSanta Clara County slapped fines on 181 retailers over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend for failing to properly notice social distancing requirements, worsening the pain for many shop owners already struggling after months of coronavirus restrictions.The inspections came as a surprise to many of the 427 stores that county inspectors visited over the weekend, with offenders ranging from giant warehouse retailers like Costco to tiny boutiques like Pinkberry yogurt shop at Stanford Shopping Center.“They just showed up randomly and gave us a citation,” said Ricky...…By | and | | Bay Area News GroupSanta Clara County slapped fines on 181 retailers over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend for failing to properly notice social distancing requirements, worsening the pain for many shop owners already struggling after months of coronavirus restrictions.The inspections came as a surprise to many of the 427 stores that county inspectors visited over the weekend, with offenders ranging from giant warehouse retailers like Costco to tiny boutiques like Pinkberry yogurt shop at Stanford Shopping Center.“They just showed up randomly and gave us a citation,” said Ricky...WW…

SAN JOSE CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 17: Dr. Jeff Smith, executive officer of Santa Clara County, speaks at press event, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, promoting the county's new flu vaccine program starting Saturday at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)Santa Clara County executive Dr. Jeff Smith fired back Monday at 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s “extreme disappointment” over how the franchise learned of a county contact sports ban forcing the team to play at least its next two home games in Arizona.In his postgame comments Sunday, Shanahan did not...…SAN JOSE CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 17: Dr. Jeff Smith, executive officer of Santa Clara County, speaks at press event, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, promoting the county's new flu vaccine program starting Saturday at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)Santa Clara County executive Dr. Jeff Smith fired back Monday at 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s “extreme disappointment” over how the franchise learned of a county contact sports ban forcing the team to play at least its next two home games in Arizona.In his postgame comments Sunday, Shanahan did not...WW…

By | and | | Bay Area News GroupCalifornia moved more counties to tighter restrictions on business and activities Tuesday after the state set new records of daily infections amid a relentless autumn surge that has left health officials pleading with people to avoid Thanksgiving gatherings outside their households this week.One local health chief even went so far as to admonish the public for behaving “selfishly.”Health departments around the state reported 20,513 new coronavirus cases Monday, shattering the previous single-day record of 16,521 that followed the July 4 weekend. On Tuesday,...…By | and | | Bay Area News GroupCalifornia moved more counties to tighter restrictions on business and activities Tuesday after the state set new records of daily infections amid a relentless autumn surge that has left health officials pleading with people to avoid Thanksgiving gatherings outside their households this week.One local health chief even went so far as to admonish the public for behaving “selfishly.”Health departments around the state reported 20,513 new coronavirus cases Monday, shattering the previous single-day record of 16,521 that followed the July 4 weekend. On Tuesday,...WW…

By | | Bay Area News GroupThe first round of progress reports are being sent home for students caught in California’s experiment with online distance learning this fall, and for many, the grades are not good.Districts around the Bay Area are reporting sharp spikes in failing grades so far this fall during a term that has largely been taught online over computers to students stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic.Sequoia Union High School District in Redwood City this week reported that the percentage of students with more than one failing grade this fall jumped to 29% from 19.7% in...…By | | Bay Area News GroupThe first round of progress reports are being sent home for students caught in California’s experiment with online distance learning this fall, and for many, the grades are not good.Districts around the Bay Area are reporting sharp spikes in failing grades so far this fall during a term that has largely been taught online over computers to students stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic.Sequoia Union High School District in Redwood City this week reported that the percentage of students with more than one failing grade this fall jumped to 29% from 19.7% in...WW…

By | | Bay Area News GroupSilicon Valley has contained coronavirus outbreaks more than most of urban California and the U.S., but still reports an average of more than 100 cases a day.So how are they getting sick?Recent data from Santa Clara County health officials suggests people here are catching the virus at work or in carpools and spreading it to others at home.That may be a bit surprising, Santa Clara County Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said in an update this past week to county officials, given that scientific literature and reports across the country have highlighted large gatherings...…By | | Bay Area News GroupSilicon Valley has contained coronavirus outbreaks more than most of urban California and the U.S., but still reports an average of more than 100 cases a day.So how are they getting sick?Recent data from Santa Clara County health officials suggests people here are catching the virus at work or in carpools and spreading it to others at home.That may be a bit surprising, Santa Clara County Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said in an update this past week to county officials, given that scientific literature and reports across the country have highlighted large gatherings...WW…

By | | Bay Area News GroupWith another holiday weekend upon us, public health officials are once again wagging their fingers, warning Californians to heed social-distancing mandates against going out and gathering among family and friends.But are lots of Californians really going out socializing on holiday weekends and fueling spread of the coronavirus?Turns out, we may not be so bad after all.At least by one measure — anonymized cell phone and vehicle tracking that data researchers analyze to indicate people’s mobility — it does not appear social distancing drops dramatically on...…By | | Bay Area News GroupWith another holiday weekend upon us, public health officials are once again wagging their fingers, warning Californians to heed social-distancing mandates against going out and gathering among family and friends.But are lots of Californians really going out socializing on holiday weekends and fueling spread of the coronavirus?Turns out, we may not be so bad after all.At least by one measure — anonymized cell phone and vehicle tracking that data researchers analyze to indicate people’s mobility — it does not appear social distancing drops dramatically on...WW…