I am Winston Gieseke, philanthropy and particular sections editor for The Desert Solar in Palm Springs, hoping you had a terrific week. Earlier than we begin the weekend, let’s check out a few of at the moment’s high headlines from right here within the Golden State.
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Caitlyn Jenner pronounces bid for California governor
Caitlyn Jenner, the previous Olympic athlete-turned-transgender activist and actuality TV star, has declared her intention to run for California governor within the looming recall race to unseat incumbent Democrat Gavin Newsom.
On her web site launched Friday, Jenner says: “I am In! California has been my residence for almost 50 years. I got here right here as a result of I knew that anybody, no matter their background or station in life, might flip their desires into actuality. However for the previous decade, we’ve seen the glimmer of the Golden State diminished by one-party rule that locations politics over progress and particular pursuits over folks. Sacramento wants an sincere chief with a transparent imaginative and prescient.”
Jenner, a longtime Republican, in 2018 executed a political about-face, turning in opposition to President Donald Trump as results of his response to LGBTQ rights.
“Sadly, I used to be improper,” Jenner mentioned. “The fact is that the trans group is being relentlessly attacked by this president … He has made trans folks into political pawns as he whips up animus in opposition to us in an try to energise probably the most right-wing section of his celebration …”
Nonetheless, not everyone seems to be satisfied. Equality California slammed Jenner on Twitter Friday over her previous help of Trump. “Make no mistake: we will not wait to elect a #trans governor of California. However @Caitlyn_Jenner spent years telling the #LGBTQ+ group to belief Donald Trump. We noticed how that turned out. Now she desires us to belief her? Exhausting move.”
Who else is operating for California governor?
Listed below are these who’ve up to now thrown their hat into the race for the California governor spot — if the recall race takes place:
John Cox: The Republican businessman misplaced to Newsom in 2018 and is operating once more.
On his web site, Cox mentioned he “has stepped ahead to run for governor as a result of he’s deeply involved in regards to the choices being made in Sacramento at the moment.” He mentioned he “will work to cut back the price of residing, create high-paying jobs, and fixing homelessness throughout our state.”
Kevin Faulconer: The previous San Diego mayor has been barnstorming the state to lift his profile.
Faulconer’s group says he suits the mildew of a Republican who can win in a Democratic state, like Gov. Larry Hogan in Maryland or Charlie Baker in Massachusetts. He was elected mayor twice in San Diego, the eighth-largest metropolis within the nation by inhabitants and a spot the place Democrats outnumber Republicans.
Doug Ose: The ex-U.S. consultant final held workplace in 2005. Ose beforehand mentioned he was able to work throughout celebration strains to reopen colleges and companies in a state upended by the coronavirus, whereas taking over the long-running homelessness disaster.
“Californians are bored with having a governor whose working themes are hypocrisy, self-interest, half truths and mediocrity,” Ose, 65, mentioned in a press release saying his candidacy.
Newsom tells high oil regulator to section out new fracking by 2024
Whereas we’re with regards to governors, California’s present one on Friday directed the state’s high oil regulator, the Geologic Vitality Administration Division, to instantly start crafting a regulation to halt new hydraulic fracturing permits by 2024.
Newsom additionally requested the California Air Assets Board to review methods to section out all oil extraction throughout the state by no later than 2045.
“The local weather disaster is actual, and we proceed to see the indicators day-after-day,” Newsom mentioned in a written information launch. “As we transfer to swiftly decarbonize our transportation sector and create a more healthy future for our kids, I’ve made it clear I don’t see a job for fracking in that future and equally, consider that California wants to maneuver past oil.”
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, whereas a hot-button concern nationally, accounts for between 2% and 20% of California’s oil extraction. Only a dozen new fracking permits have been issued statewide this yr.
The governor’s announcement did little to appease critics. A high Newsom administration official mentioned final fall that it was as much as the legislature to ban fracking, and Newsom mentioned he needed to work with them to do it. However environmentalists say he has the authority to concern an government order to halt drilling, particularly close to residential areas, directly.
CDC panel: Use of Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine ought to resume
The pause on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine needs to be lifted, an knowledgeable advisory committee to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention mentioned Friday.
The advice by the CDC panel, referred to as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, needs to be accredited by the CDC and the Meals and Drug Administration earlier than turning into official authorities coverage.
The pause, which started on April 13, was in response to studies of a uncommon mixture of blood clots and low ranges of platelets in individuals who had obtained the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The FDA and CDC will make a joint assertion Friday night about resuming use of the vaccine.
“It is a critical opposed occasion. We have to proceed to make sure that consciousness is raised,” mentioned member Dr. Grace Lee, a pediatrician on the Lucile Packard Kids’s Hospital and Stanford College College of Drugs, who supported the measure. “However I additionally suppose that we’ve to return out with a transparent suggestion.”
Who will win Sunday’s Academy Awards — and who ought to
It has been a longer-than-usual highway to the Oscars, with Hollywood navigating a yr just about with out film theaters, a smaller quantity of top-notch contenders, a slew of digital movie festivals and an awards season filled with delayed exhibits and Zoom acceptance speeches.
However on Sunday on the 93rd Academy Awards, a brand new crop of winners shall be introduced for the primary time amid a pandemic, and the film business can have one thing to rejoice for a change.
Have you ever seen all of the movies? Have you learnt who you are rooting for? If not, USA TODAY author Brian Truitt has complied an inventory of the nominees alongside together with his picks for the 4 main classes.
Learn his predictions right here.
And lastly (however not leastly), in Wednesday’s “In California,” we as soon as once more talked about SafeWise’s rankings of the most secure cities in California. To see the place your metropolis ranks, learn the total report right here.
In California is a roundup of stories from throughout USA Right now community newsrooms. We’ll be again in your inbox Monday with extra of the most recent headlines.
Because the philanthropy and particular sections editor at The Desert Solar, Winston Gieseke writes about nonprofits, fundraising and individuals who give again within the Coachella Valley. Attain him at [email protected].