June 11, 2020 Media Brief
Orange County
Daily Pilot: Nursing home losses mount as Orange County COVID-19 deaths near 200
The Orange County-wide death toll from the disease caused by the pandemic coronavirus is now 198 with 92 coming from skilled nursing facilities, continuing a steady pattern of the most medically fragile, and generally elderly, patients being more likely to succumb.
Voice of OC: National First Amendment Advocates condemn Irvine Mayor actions
A national first amendment organization sent a letter condemning recent action on Facebook by Irvine Mayor Christina Shea, when she blocked several commenters on her personal page that attempted to discuss public policy.
Voice of OC: DA Spitzer draws fire from judge over effort to drop charges in high profile case
A judge has issued a strong rebuke of Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer’s attempt to drop rape charges in a high-profile case against a Newport Beach surgeon and his girlfriend, calling it an effort at a “backroom dismissal by prosecutors without the alleged victims ever having the opportunity to be heard.”
Voice of OC: Irvine City Council approves rent assistance program after public push
After months of public pressure from UC Irvine students and other residents, the Irvine City Council approved a plan to help residents handle rent complications caused by the COVID shutdown.
Voice of OC: Orange County to launch 5 million meal gap program
The Orange County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved $5 million dollars in federal Coronavirus relief money to split between the five districts in the county to pay for a nutritional meal gap program for seniors and people with disabilities
Labor
Associated Press: 1.5 million laid-off workers seek unemployment benefits
About 1.5 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, evidence that many Americans are still losing their jobs even as the economy appears to be slowly recovering with more businesses partially reopening.
California
ABC7: State officials back repealing state ban on affirmative action
The California Assembly says it will let voters decide whether to repeal the state's ban on affirmative action. The policy considers a person's color, race, sex, religion, or ethnicity to increase opportunities for an underrepresented group in society.
KTLA: California courts ends order imposed to reduce jail populations
Individual counties can keep the $0 bail policy “where necessary to protect the health of the community, the courts, and the incarcerated” after the statewide policy ends June 20, said Justice Marsha Slough, a member of the council.
Nation
Associated Press: Alarming rise in virus cases as states roll back lockdowns
States are rolling back lockdowns, but the coronavirus isn’t done with the U.S. Cases are rising in nearly half the states, a worrying trend that could increase as people venture out for the summer.
Publication Date: June 11, 2020
