January 20, 2022 Media Brief
Orange County
Voice of OC: Workers COVID revolt at the County of Orange
COVID infections among county workers have spiked significantly – nearly fivefold – in the last month from 87 cases in November to 432 in December, according to county data obtained by Voice of OC.
OC Register: Staff shortages at OC schools create ‘all hands on deck’ situation
Lowell School Superintendent Jim Coombs has pinch hit in a variety of roles. Last week, he worked as a custodian, emptying trash cans and cleaning bathrooms. On Wednesday, Jan. 19, he subbed as a playground aide.
Voice of OC: Capistrano school district struggles to get substitute teachers during Omicron wave
At Wednesday’s meeting, Capistrano Unified Trustees unanimously passed a resolution stating their temporary staffing needs amid the Omicron surge, which enables officials to use Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order that makes it easier for districts to hire substitute teachers in an effort to keep classrooms open.
OC Register: Coronavirus: 6,532 new cases, five more deaths reported in Orange County on Jan. 20
On Thursday, 1,183 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 in Orange County, including 199 patients in intensive care units. That’s an decrease of 49 people hospitalized from Wednesday.
Voice of OC: Fullerton begins looking at bonds to pay pension debt
By issuing these bonds over a 22 year period, the city thinks they could save around $3.7 million every year for the first 15 years of the bond, though there was no statement in the report on what happens after those 15 years.
OC Register: ‘Dramatic’ Santa Ana winds to bring strong gusts to Southern California through weekend
Santa Ana winds are expected to push into Southern California over the next few days, bringing gusty and potentially hazardous conditions to parts of the region starting Friday afternoon, meteorologists with the National Weather Service said Thursday, Jan. 20.
Labor
Labor 411: Consumers increasingly welcome service workers’ union efforts
In Buffalo, N.Y., Starbucks customers supportive of unionizing baristas are showing they are, indeed, changing their mobile order names to things like, “Union Strong Annie” and “Vote ‘Yes’ John.”
Region
LA Times: More than 2,000 LAPD, Sheriff’s Department employees off duty due to COVID
LAPD Det. Meghan Aguilar said that some 1,134 personnel out of 12,200 are currently at home, including 898 sworn officers. Those numbers are up 42% from the 803 personnel who were out Jan. 11.
California
KTLA: COVID transmission rates are falling across California, bringing cautious optimism
Health officials in San Francisco said Thursday they believe they’ve passed the peak of the latest wave. And in Los Angeles County, there’s cautious optimism that the days of exponential growth may be in the rearview mirror.
Publication Date: January 20, 2022
