Experts cite orchestrated heists in protest chaos.

Troubling LAPD actions are disseminated widely online.

And five not-to-missed outings in California's far north.  

Cases of pillaging across California, like the brazen heist of a Bay Area car dealership on Sunday, have had the hallmarks of well-coordinated criminal operations, police and experts said. While some opportunists have joined in looting frenzies, experts say caravans of burglars have been capitalizing on chaos to stage widespread store thefts, communicating via messaging apps and hopping from protest to protest. A.P.

Less than an hour before he was fatally shot by a Vallejo police officer early Tuesday, Sean Monterrosa texted his sisters with a request that they sign a petition demanding justice for George Floyd. Now the death of Monterrosa, 22, has further fanned the flames of nationwide anger over police violence. "They executed him, there was no reason for them to kill my brother like that," his sister said. S.F. Chronicle | KGO

On Thursday, as a solemn memorial was held for George Floyd in Minneapolis, demonstrators again poured onto the streets of cities across California. A few snapshots:

In San Francisco, a caravan of more than 300 cars honked its way through the city in the name of racial justice, drawing cheers from onlookers. KGO | S.F. Chronicle

In San Luis Obispo, Cavin Stokes, a protester, said Thursday was the first time he had ever felt so comfortable in the heavily white town. "I have tears coming out of my eyes. You have no idea how proud I am right now." The Tribune | KSBY

In Los Angeles, a protest organized by the city's Ethiopian community appealed to America's standing in the eyes of the world. "We want America to be better, we want America to do better for everyone," an Ethopian immigrant said. LAist

After days of largely peaceful protests, curfews were lifted across much of the Bay Area, Los Angeles County, and the rest of Southern California. (L.A.'s mayor acknowledged that made him nervous.) Sacramento was a notable exception. The ACLU on Thursday demanded the capital city relent. "Sacramento seems to be digging their feet in the ground," an attorney for the group said. A.P. | Sacramento Bee

An LAPD vehicle barreling into protesters. Cops pummeling a young man on the ground. At least eight officers piling on a woman in the street and repeatedly stun-gunning her. 

Citizen videos of troubling police actions in Los Angeles have been shared widely online. Asked for comment, a police spokesman said officers were dealing with "dynamic and at times dangerous situations" and had had rocks and bottles thrown at them. L.A. Times | KABC

Temecula's mayor resigned after sending an email that said he didn't "believe there's ever been a good person of color killed by a police officer." Circulated widely, the message set off an outcry. The mayor, James Stewart, explained that he is dyslexic and his message did not reflect what he meant to say. Press-Enterprise | A.P.

San Francisco leaders announced a proposal to redirect police department money to the city's black community. They called it a step toward reparations. S.F. Chronicle | S.F. Examiner

"I'm not going to stand for divisive rhetoric, I'm not going to stand for violence." Stevante Clark's brother Stephon Clark was gunned down by Sacramento police in 2018. Now the 27-year-old has emerged as a protest leader. L.A. Times | Sacramento Bee

A Long Beach police officer posted a picture of himself with his baton standing over a blood-spattered sidewalk. The police chief called the image "very disturbing." An internal investigation was opened. Long Beach Post | BuzzFeed News

"If you're not (concerned), you're not paying attention to the epidemiology, to the virulence of this disease." 

That was Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday as he warned Californians to brace for a surge of new coronavirus cases after days of protests and relaxed rules on businesses. Even so, there are no plans to slow reopening efforts, he said. A.P. | S.F. Chronicle

A great way to spread the virus, according to experts? Tear gas. L.A. Times | ProPublica

Here are the latest coronavirus totals, according to tallies by the S.F. Chronicle and N.Y. Times:

Confirmed cases:
1,882,900 in U.S.
122,607 in California
14,740 in Bay Area
96,665 in Southern California

Deaths:
108,100 in U.S.
4,453 in California

See trackers of cases in California, the U.S., and worldwide.

People have been sawing through President Trump's border wall with inexpensive power tools. Others have fashioned long, improvised ladders out of cheap metal rebar. Now contractors are being asked for ideas to make the barrier less vulnerable. Trump has continued to campaign for reelection on the $15 billion barrier. He's stopped, however, calling it "impenetrable." Washington Post

On this week's California Sun Podcast, host Jeff Schechtman talks with Eloy Ortiz Oakley, chancellor of California's 115 community colleges. Oakley said one of the pandemic's harshest blows has been to the livelihoods of students and their families. That's imperiled the education of those who lack the resources to learn remotely. "Everything has changed," Oakley said. "We have to now prepare ourselves to adapt to that change." California Sun Podcast

The author Miriam Pawel once observed: Californians talk about their weekend hiking plans the way New Yorkers talk about where they might have brunch. With the state now slowly emerging from its Covid hibernation, many residents have been daydreaming about getting immersed again in the Golden State's forests, deserts, beaches, and mountains. 

The Sun reached out to top outdoors experts in each of nine California regions and asked the same question: If you had to name your absolute top 5 not-to-be-missed day outings, what would they be?

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to roll out their responses in their own words in the newsletter, then publish the whole thing online as a standalone mini guide. 

First up, John Soares, the author of several Northern California guide books, gave his picks for the "far north" region, illustrated above, stretching from the Northern Sacramento Valley up to the Oregon border.

1. Sacramento River Bend Area, north of Red Bluff

This extensive stretch of BLM land encompasses volcanic foothills beside the Sacramento River. A network of trails and dirt roads offers several hiking options, plus the open country encourages cross-country rambling, especially in spring when green grasses and wildflowers cover the landscape.

Redding is blessed with an abundance of paths, many broad and paved. The ones near the Sundial Bridge may be too popular right now, but check out the Sacramento River Trail loop west of Caldwell Park. There are also several local parks with more paved paths. Bonus: Walk Anderson River Park just 10 miles south of Redding, which has an array of dirt roads and paved paths open to hikers.

3. Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, west of Redding

This Shasta County jewel is a favorite with locals and visitors alike. Whiskeytown Lake nestles below massive Shasta Bally, and numerous trails explore the lakeshore, creeks, and forests. The 2018 Carr Fire hit this area hard, but the lake and vistas are still beautiful, and you can see how the landscape is slowly recovering. 

4. Castle Crags State Park, south of Dunsmuir

Granitic Castle Crags juts dramatically skyward along the west side of Interstate 5. Several paths for both beginning and experienced hikers run through the park, including the most spectacular: the Castle Dome Trail, which climbs steeply out of the park into the pure granite of Castle Crags Wilderness.

Wherever you go, you almost always have a view of the magnificent mountain. Ascend the Spring Hill Trail, a dirt road that ends at the top of a small volcano on the north side of Mount Shasta city. Also explore the Gateway Trail system off Everitt Memorial Highway just outside the town limits; it's a favorite with mountain bikers, but hikers are welcome on the dirt roads and newly constructed single-track paths. Finally, head out to the Lake Siskiyou Loop Trail, a broad and flat ramble that runs through forest and near the lakeshore, allowing excellent views of Mount Eddy and Mount Shasta. 

John Soares is the author of "Day Hiking: Mount Shasta, Lassen & Trinity Alps Regions" and "100 Classic Hikes: Northern California and Hike the Parks: Redwood National & State Parks." Find trail details and book purchasing info at his website. 

Five items that got big views over the past week:

In 1895, a group of 19 Hopi men were sent to Alcatraz for refusing to send their children to government schools that aimed to erase their culture. Here's a fascinating account of the "Hopis of Alcatraz." Journal of Alta California

A UC Santa Barbara student who writes for the Washington Examiner was caught on video apparently faking community service for a photo. CBSLA

In 2019, Andy Ruiz Jr. — the son of Mexican immigrants from California's Imperial Valley — stunned the boxing world by beating one of the sport's biggest stars. A year later, a reporter set out to find Ruiz and discovered that something was awry. ESPN

This homage to California's ancient redwoods — with beautiful video, spoken poetry, and a minimalist score — is food for the soul. Its title: "Growing is Forever." Vimeo (~3 mins)

An Elk Grove kindergarten teacher's epic Zoom performances for her students are making her internet famous. This one has nearly half a million views. YouTube/Miss Kissingers Korner

Today's California Sun: Experts cite orchestrated heists in protest chaos, troubling LAPD actions are disseminated widely online, and five not-to-missed outings in California's far north.

Caravans of burglars capitalize on chaos // 5 far north outdoor adventures

Counterprotesters raise their voices at rallies.

Organizers bring protests to whiter neighborhoods.

And the rise and fall of an unlikely boxing champion. 

"Defund the police," a once-obscure slogan, has been gaining traction in the George Floyd protests. Now, Los Angeles leaders say they are looking to cut up to $150 million from the LAPD budget as part of an initiative to reinvest in the black community. Opponents say recent rioting shows why the city needs the force it has. "10,000 officers were barely able to keep the peace," one council member said. L.A. Times | L.A. Magazine

Early Tuesday, police officers responded to reports of looting at a Walgreens in Vallejo, where they engaged a 22-year-old man named Sean Monterrosa. He appeared to have a handgun in his waistband, officers said. Feeling threatened, one of them fired five rounds, killing him. On Wednesday, Vallejo's police chief revealed new details: Monterrosa was on his knees when he was shot, and he didn't have a gun. It was a hammer. Vallejo Times-Herald | A.P.

Sacramento: The mayor and police chief knelt with protesters. "I love being a black man and I love being a police officer," Police Chief Daniel Hahn said. Sacramento Bee | CBS Sacramento

Sonora: Demonstrators in the tiny Gold Rush town held a nine-minute moment of silence. A group of counterprotesters used the opportunity to belt out the Pledge of Allegiance. MyMotherLode.com

San Francisco: At least 10,000 people gathered in one of the city's most vibrant protests yet. A 17-year-old organizer addressed the crowd: "We are here to acknowledge the black people who built this country against their will." Mission Local | SFGate.com

West Hollywood: Hundreds of people laid down on scorching pavement with their hands behind their backs, simulating the position Floyd was in when a Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into his neck. A.P. | KTLA

San Clemente: "This entire city reeks of white privilege and everyone is plugging their noses," an organizer yelled through a bullhorn. O.C. Register | Voice of OC

The racial unrest in Los Angeles has drawn comparisons to the riots of 1992. But the geography of chaos has been very different. In 1992, South Los Angeles went up in flames. This time around, not only has the violence been much less pronounced, protest leaders made a very deliberate choice to bring their message to Los Angeles's largely white and rich Westside. L.A. Times | LAist | N.Y. Times

"LA 92," a documentary about the 1992 riots, is free on YouTube right now. Rotten Tomatoes score: 93 percent. It's also streaming on Netflix, along with "Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982–1992." 

An Orange County sheriff's deputy working at a protest in Costa Mesa was seen wearing a patch for the Three Percenters, an extremist far-right paramilitary group. After photos and video of the officer spread online, Sheriff Don Barnes said such logos "contradict the values of the Sheriff's Department." The deputy was placed on administrative leave. Voice of OC | O.C. Register

In the last week, George Floyd murals have been draped on urban canvases in cities across California. Below, a short tour.

In Upland, a group in MAGA hats shouted "Go home" at demonstrators. Then, in a moment captured on video, a man produced an assault weapon and pointed it at the crowd. He was arrested. O.C. Register | NBC Los Angeles

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Trump's threat to send the military into American cities: "It won't happen. It's not going to happen. We would reject it. We would push back against that." L.A. Times | Politico

San Francisco's curfew was lifted. Sacramento's was extended. L.A. County's sheriff said the county's curfew would remain until "protests are gone." (The ACLU said that's unconstitutional). 

California's governor is pushing to parlay federal coronavirus relief into a solution to the state's homelessness crisis. The idea is to send counties $600 million in federal funding starting next month — before the aid dries up — to purchase vacant hotels and turn them into permanent housing. A major hurdle: Nimby opposition. Politico

Newsom signed an executive order that requires counties to have drop boxes open to receive ballots nearly a month before the Nov. 3 election. Walk-in polling stations must open at least three days before the election. The decision follows an earlier order requiring mail-in ballots be sent to all registered voters. Republicans are fighting that in court. Bloomberg | A.P.

Snap became the latest tech company to restrict the messaging of President Trump. The Santa Monica company, which makes the Snapchat app popular among young users, announced that it would no longer promote Trump's account after his incendiary remarks over the weekend. "We will not amplify voices who incite racial violence and injustice," it said. A Trump aide responded: "Snapchat is trying to rig the 2020 election." N.Y. Times | recode

In the summer of 2019, Andy Ruiz Jr. — the hefty son of Mexican immigrants from California's Imperial Valley — stunned the boxing world by walloping one of the sport's biggest stars at Madison Square Garden. The new heavyweight champ of the world, he was dubbed "Rocky Mexicano." There was a parade. It was the best story in sports. A year later, a reporter set out to find Ruiz and discovered that something was awry. Ruiz seemed to have checked out. "I didn't give up on Andy," his former trainer said. "He gave up on himself." ESPN

Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa, Jim Morrison, James Taylor.

In the 1960s and '70s, a neighborhood in the Santa Monica Mountains hosted an extraordinary bubble of musical innovators. The new two-part documentary "Laurel Canyon" uses performance footage, home movies, and artist interviews to craft what the L.A. Times called "the most comprehensive and musically satisfying document of a notably insular scene." (The only way to see it is to subscribe to Epix. But it looks like first week is free). L.A. Times | Rolling Stone

Today's California Sun: Counterprotesters raise their voices at rallies, organizers bring protests to whiter neighborhoods, and the rise and fall of an unlikely boxing champion.

Counterprotesters raise their voices // Rise and fall of Andy Ruiz Jr.

Los Angeles mayor drops to his knee at downtown protest.

Officials collect evidence for arrests after the riots.

And a fascinating look back at the Hopis of Alcatraz.  

After days of turbulent protests, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti dropped to his knee during a rally led by clergy members near the city's police headquarters. He pulled down his mask to address the gathering: “A black face should not be a sentence to die, nor to be homeless, nor to be sick, nor to be under-employed, nor to be under-educated," he said. "We need a country that listens." Later, 1,000 protesters gathered outside Garcetti's home. They chanted "defund police!" as an LAPD helicopter circled overhead. L.A. Times | L.A. Daily News | A.P.

Demonstrations large and small on Tuesday demanded an end to police brutality in California communities from Chico to San Diego, and San Francisco to Yucaipa. In Sacramento, protesters sat quietly for nine minutes, the amount of time that a Minneapolis police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd. In Oakland, a youth-led demonstration drew 15,000 people. And in Hollywood, protesters delivered an urgent message: "Looting has nothing to do with us." A.P. | L.A. Times | Mercury News

Law enforcement officials have arrested nearly 3,000 people in Southern California since Friday — and they don't plan to stop after things settle down. The LAPD has been collecting evidence, mostly in the form of video, that could be used to identify suspects engaged in looting, violence, and vandalism. The FBI put out a national call for pictures and videos. L.A. Times | CBSLA

Fresh chaos erupted in Vallejo late Tuesday, with reports of looting, burglary, and shots fired. S.F. Chronicle | KRON

Here is the latest information on curfews in Southern California, the Bay Area, and Sacramento.

"For all those people hating cops across the nation. Just leave your name and address at your local police agency and let them know whenever you dial 911 or need emergency police services you no longer wish for them to respond to your calls for help."

That was Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux responding to the nation's unrest in a now-deleted tweet. A local mayor — and many others — called for him to be fired. Visalia Times-Delta | KFSN

California's Legislative Black Caucus is prioritizing a package of bills that include stricter rules of police conduct, the repeal of a 1996 law barring affirmative action at colleges, and a task force to study reparations. Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, who chairs the caucus, said a new approach to reform was needed. "Will it be systemic," she said, "or will this be a quick response that we've had before?" A.P. | CalMatters 

A car dealership in San Leandro lost at least 73 new vehicles to looters, who had about five hours to pillage as police were overwhelmed by mayhem in other parts of the city. SFist | KRON

A UC Santa Barbara student who writes for the Washington Examiner was caught on video apparently faking community service for a photo. It spread all over Twitter. Before long, the Examiner had fired her. CBSLA

Fresno had escaped protest violence. Then a social media post threatened riots. So business owners boarded up their shops — just in case. Fresno Bee | KGPE

USC announced that it would bring students back to campus in the fall, a highly anticipated decision certain to please many students. Some families had balked at the idea of paying the $58,000 annual tuition and fees for classes on computers. The Cal State system plans to hold most classes online. The UC system is expected to announce its plans this month. L.A. Times | KTLA

Parking lots at half of California's 280 state parks, beaches, and historic sites have now reopened after being closed for more than two months. Also opening Thursday: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Mercury News | SFGate.com

San Diego County is now letting people relax on the beach for the first time since the start of the pandemic. NBC 7 | KPBS

Sonoma County said it plans to allow restaurants, shops, and churches to fully reopen by Saturday. Press Democrat

At this point pretty much all of California outside of the Bay Area and Imperial County has been approved for advanced Stage 2 of the state's four-stage plan. Here's a reopening map. L.A. Times

Down the road from Apple — with its futuristic offices and trillion-dollar market value — Cupertino has given rise to the first visible homeless encampment in recent memory. With fewer than a dozen tents along the roadside, the camp has elicited strong reactions in a city with a median home price of $2.2 million and no homeless shelters. Some people have brought food by. Someone else spray-painted "LEAVE." Mercury News

In a question-and-answer session with employees, Mark Zuckerberg defended his hands-off approach to President Trump's inflammatory Facebook messages. He said while he was upset by the posts, the company's free speech policies "show that the right action where we are right now is to leave this up." Hundreds of employees have protested the decision and several have resigned. N.Y. Times | recode

The multidisciplinary art star Sterling Ruby has created a video project on California's 35 adult prisons. The footage includes black-and-white aerial views of the geometric complexes — "an allegory for a contemporary hell" in Ruby's description — sprawling out of California's rugged wide open spaces. Set to a stark drum-beat track, the effect is mesmerizing. AnOther magazine | Vimeo (~33 mins)

Today I learned: In 1895, a group of 19 Southwestern Hopi men were sent to Alcatraz for refusing to send their children to government boarding schools that aimed to erase their culture. In lurid news reports, San Francisco newspapers called them "ready scalpers" and "murderous-looking Apache Indians." In truth, they practiced an ancient religion based on nonviolence. Here's a fascinating account of the "Hopis of Alcatraz." Journal of Alta California

Today's California Sun: Los Angeles mayor drops to his knee at downtown protest, officials collect evidence for arrests after the riots, and a fascinating look back at the Hopis of Alcatraz.

Arrests planned after the riots // The Hopis of Alcatraz

Health officials brace for outbreaks after protests.

Rents plummet by double digits in Silicon Valley.

And a revolt at Facebook over Trump's inflammatory posts. 

Relative calm settled over much of California on Monday after several days of turmoil. Peaceful demonstrations were held in numerous cities, but with curfews imposed and National Guard troops standing by, few devolved into the sort of widespread vandalism and looting that marred the weekend gatherings. Still, there were reports of scattered unrest late Monday, including clashes in several Bay Area cities, and looting in Hollywood and Van Nuys. A.P.

Gov. Gavin Newsom met with faith leaders at a predominantly African American church in Sacramento and delivered remarks aimed toward the people protesting police brutality on California's streets. They were right to feel wronged, he said. "The black community is not responsible for what's happening in this country right now. We are. Our institutions are responsible. We are accountable to this moment." KCRA | CalMatters

Newsom sidestepped President Trump's call for governors to "dominate" the unrest on the streets. He called the president's remarks "noise." S.F. Chronicle | A.P.

California officials on Monday moved to capitalize on the energy of the Floyd protests to make some changes. In San Diego, Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced that the city's police force would no longer use a controversial neck hold known as a carotid restraint, "effective immediately." S.D. Union-Tribune | NBC San Diego

Prosecutors in three California counties called on the state bar to prohibit district attorneys from taking money from police unions. The donations, critics say, pollute investigations of police shootings. Mercury News | CBS SF

California's top education official vowed to introduce a greater focus on teaching about implicit bias in California classrooms. L.A. Times |  EdSource

"Everybody feel good? Let's get out there!"

Volunteers armed with brooms and buckets have been stepping up to help clean and repair battered communities across the state. Below, a few photos. 

Roughly 500 National Guard troops arrived in Sacramento on Monday after two nights of looting and vandalism. A curfew was believed to be the first in the city's history. A.P. | Sacramento Bee

L.A. Times columnist: "What's really manifesting itself on the streets from San Francisco to Santa Monica is the absolute, incalculable rage about the race-based inequities that have been ignored for too long by officials at all levels of California government."

"We love you. I know some of you don't believe that." In a widely shared video, Brentwood's police chief took a knee with protesters and delivered a speech that drew cheers. YouTube | The Press

Are the protests spreading the coronavirus? "Based on the way the disease spreads, there is every reason to expect that we will see new clusters and potentially new outbreaks moving forward," the U.S. surgeon general said. Even so, protesters said the risk was worth it. "I cannot in good conscience let this moment pass me by," one said. Politico | L.A. Times

Here are the latest California coronavirus totals, as tracked by the S.F. Chronicle:

Confirmed cases:
115,078
+2,759 since a day ago
+18,593 since a week ago

Deaths:
4,219
+47 since a day ago
+453 since a week ago

Nevada County, straddling the Sierra foothills, has had 41 coronavirus cases in total, and none since April 28. Yet many residents — restaurateurs, campground owners, hotel managers, gym operators, tattoo artists, and wedding photographers — remain conflicted: "They know that if California opens up, the virus will come to their communities. If it doesn't, financial ruin will." L.A. Times

Rents are plummeting by double digits in the Bay Area. In San Francisco, for example, they fell 9 percent compared to the same period last year. In Cupertino, they were down 14 percent. Many workers have been rethinking where they live amid an accelerating shift to remote work. "This is real," said a rental site CEO. "We have never seen anything like it." S.F. Chronicle | Business Insider

Santa Clara County, once the Bay Area's hardest-hit county, will allow in-store shopping, outdoor dining, and religious services starting Friday. Mercury News | NBC Bay Area

Newsom on Trump during the crisis: "He has been, and so far remains, a good partner to this state in terms of our efforts to date. So far." California Sunday Magazine

"Plandemic," the conspiratorial video about the coronavirus created by an Ojai man, hasn't just sowed disinformation on American soil. The video's popularity is now soaring overseas. BuzzFeed News 

In rare public criticism, hundreds of Facebook employees protested the company's decision to do nothing about inflammatory posts on the platform by President Trump. As Twitter has moved to label the president's tweets, Mark Zuckerberg has held firm, arguing that Facebook "shouldn't be the arbiter of truth of everything that people say online." The Verge | Washington Post

The N.Y. Times interviewed nearly 100 people for a Page 1 deep dive on Tara Reade, the California woman who accused Joe Biden of sexual assault. It portrays her as a person prone to embellishing her life story and in frequent conflict with the people around her. She, in turn, insists her former friends are in the wrong, calling one a "slumlord," another a "drunk," and a third a tax cheat. N.Y. Times

Christo died on Sunday at his home in New York City. The Bulgarian-born artist was known for creating large-scale environmental artworks, two of which echo fondly in the memories of many Californians. In 1976, "Running Fence" was made of 240,000 yards of nylon fabric that slithered across 24 miles from Cotati to the Pacific Ocean. "The Umbrellas," created in 1991, included more than 1,700 giant yellow umbrellas installed along the straw-colored slopes of Southern California's Grapevine. Below are a few pictures. 

Today's California Sun: Health officials brace for outbreaks after protests, rents plummet by double digits in Silicon Valley, and a revolt at Facebook over Trump's inflammatory posts. 

Bracing for outbreaks after protests // Rents plummet in the Bay Area

Lawlessness leads to curfews across California.

Some police leaders join in solidarity with protests.

And many churches reopen for the first time in months.

Eureka. Oroville. Santa Rosa. Sacramento. Modesto. Visalia. Fresno. San Francisco. Oakland. San Jose. Santa Cruz. Monterey. San Luis Obispo. Bakersfield. Thousand Oaks. Riverside. Temecula. San Bernardino. Los Angeles. Santa Ana. Huntington Beach. San Diego. La Mesa.

Protests over the death of George Floyd raged in cities across California over the weekend, most dramatically in Los Angeles, where the National Guard was called in. While the demonstrations began peacefully, many exploded into violence, vandalism, and looting. Curfews were imposed in San Diego County, L.A. County, and seven Bay Area cities, among other places. A.P. | L.A. Times

A Latino man in his 20s was fatally shot in an area flooded with protesters in Los Angeles Sunday evening. L.A. Times | KTLA

A woman, pictured above, was shot in the arm in Walnut Creek on Sunday as the city was overtaken by frenzied looting. S.F. Chronicle | Mercury News

An SUV drove into a crowd of protesters in San Jose on Saturday. A 26-year-old woman was booked on suspicion of attempted murder. San Jose Inside | Mercury News

In Visalia, a jeep plowed into two women on Saturday. Witnesses said the driver had taunted protesters while displaying a Trump flag. Visalia Times-Delta | Fresno Bee

Los Angeles saw some of the nation's most raucous clashes on Saturday, as dozens of shops were vandalized and nearly 400 people were arrested. By Sunday, military humvees full of National Guard troops had fanned out across the city after being summoned by Mayor Eric Garcetti. “It breaks my heart, too, to think about the Angelenos protesting in peace and fighting for justice how this violence and looting clouds that picture,” he said. L.A. Times | LAist | L.A. Daily News

“I was here for Rodney [King],” a 76-year-old woman said. “Nothing has changed.” L.A. Times | Twitter

Here's a crazy video of the chaos in L.A.'s Fairfax District on Saturday. Twitter (38 secs) 

Fresh rounds of looting broke out on Sunday in Long Beach and Santa Monica, prompting both cities to call in the National Guard. 

In Santa Monica, initially peaceful protests gave way to unbridled theft, as people targeted stores near the popular Third Street Promenade. A woman trying to guard an REI was shoved aside. KTLA | Santa Monica Mirror

In Long Beach, hundreds of people descended on a waterfront entertainment district, using hammers and trash cans to break into businesses. Some protesters urged them to stop. “Let’s hit Nike,” others yelled. L.A. Times | Long Beach Post

In San Diego County, the community of La Mesa saw intense rioting Saturday night that transformed the downtown into something resembling a combat zone. Businesses big and small were attacked and looted. Several cars and a Chase Bank branch were set on fire. Police responded with flash bangs and tear gas. KPBS | S.D. Union-Tribune

In San Diego, hundreds of protesters on Sunday blocked the I-5 in both directions. S.D. Union-Tribune | Times of San Diego

In many cases, business owners were dismayed to be targeted even as they felt common cause with the protesters. The owner of a vandalized  eyeglasses shop in Sacramento choked back tears: “I know why people are upset. Just taking it to this level, it’s just a little bit much." Sacramento Bee

"We only want to be treated like people." A young protester explained why she believed the destruction is necessary. YouTube/ABC7

Even as tense confrontations unfolded between cops and protesters, a number of law enforcement leaders across California spoke out, marched, and even knelt in solidarity with the protesters. A few examples:

In Eureka, the county sheriff joined in chants of "No justice, no peace, no racist police." Twitter/North Coast Journal

In Oakland, police officers kneeled with a group of protesters. Cheers erupted. Twitter/Joanna Robinson

In a remarkable moment captured on video, Los Angeles's police chief made peace with protesters by agreeing that Floyd's death was murder. TMZ

Thousands of people demanded the firing of a San Jose police officer who appeared to be enjoying targeting protesters. “Let’s get this motherf—er,” he shouted. Mercury News | San Jose Inside

After the mayhem unleashed Saturday, volunteer cleanup crews woke up Sunday and got to work reclaiming their neighborhoods. Voice of OC | LAist

L.A. Times columnist Steve Lopez: "Schools are not equal. Healthcare is not equal. Criminal justice is not equal. And black Americans just keep dying at the hands of police.

"It’s part of our faith to be together."

Many churches across California reopened for the first time in months on Sunday. Under state guidelines houses of worship can host congregations as long as they limit their size, a restriction upheld Friday by the U.S. Supreme Court. Even so, a church in Fresno defied the order, allowing as many as 350 people to gather. Fresno Bee | YourCentralValley

Along with the bears and bobcats, another sort of creature has had Yosemite all to themselves for the past three months: The children of Yosemite Valley School. The only school inside the park has three classrooms and 35 students in K-8th grades. "Their school is tucked in a meadow overlooking Yosemite Falls, the tallest waterfall in America and a fine sight to see while playing kickball." A.P.

Many small businesses in Los Angeles refused to close after the county's mid-March “Safer at Home“ order. To avoid detection they've kept the lights off, told prospective clients to use back doors, and allowed just one client on-site at a time. "This is what the new Prohibition looks like." Politico Magazine

Emails revealed how Elon Musk's brash public style contrasted with civil exchanges between Bay Area and company officials over the reopening of his Tesla factory. MarketWatch

With more than 100,000 cases, it's become clearer where Californians are most likely to get infected: nursing homes, jails, food processing plants, and social gatherings. Mercury News

The New Yorker published a searing account of homelessness in San Francisco: "Homelessness is where the most acute American nightmares of this era meet, and San Francisco has a way of making what is hidden elsewhere visible. Ever since the recent tech boom turned life in the city upside down, all the paraphernalia of American society — the wads of cash, the access keys, the drugs, the nubs of ideology — has been spilling out of San Francisco’s pockets, into an enormous pile on the street." New Yorker

One study of foster youth found that nearly a third become homeless by their early 20s. That's one reason that Santa Clara County this month will become the nation's first county to provide basic income to young people transitioning out of foster care. The taxpayer-funded pilot program will give $1,000 a month for a year to 72 young adults — no strings attached. "This job of parenting doesn’t end at 18 years old," a county supervisor said. Fast Company | Chronicle of Social Change

Today's California Sun: Lawlessness leads to curfews across California, some police leaders join in solidarity with protests, and many churches reopen for the first time in months.

Curfews across California // Churches reopen for first time in months

Sonoma County sheriff says he won't enforce stay-home order.

Twitter flags another Trump tweet for "glorifying violence." 

And a beautiful homage to California's ancient redwoods. 

San Francisco's mayor unveiled a timeline for reopening more businesses — and it's not quick. Even as dining and indoor retail sales have resumed across much of California, the city won't allow either until June 15, and even then only outdoor dining. Phase 3 — when bars, gyms, nail salons and other sectors can reopen — won't come until mid-August. S.F. Examiner | SFist

Sources said dining rooms could partially open in Los Angeles as soon as this weekend. Eater Los Angeles

Sonoma County's sheriff announced that he would no longer enforce the county's shelter-in-place order. It's been 10 weeks, Sheriff Mark Essick said. "It's time to stop criminalizing behavior that would otherwise not be criminal." County supervisors reacted angrily. "He is promoting lawlessness," one said. Press Democrat | KCBS

See maps of California's hot spots. (Sonoma is among them). N.Y. Times | Sacramento Bee

The debate over reopening has taken on a partisan tinge across the country. But Colorado has been an outlier. The blue state lifted its stay-at-home order on April 27, even before Georgia, Texas, and Florida. And Coloradans are giving the state's Democratic governor, Jared Polis, high marks. The national discord is unfortunate, he said. "This shouldn't be viewed through a political lens. It should be viewed through a health lens and an economic lens." Politico Magazine

Increasing hospitalizations in Orange County, 12 infections at an Oakland grocery store, and a positive test at the main Riverside post office. Here are the latest California coronavirus totals, as tracked by the S.F. Chronicle:

Confirmed cases:
103,869
+2,098 since a day ago
+15,425 since a week ago

Deaths:
3,992
+80 since a day ago
+362 since a week ago

Starting in March, California set up field hospitals, doubled the number of intensive care rooms, recruited a "Health Corps," and ordered hospitals to halt routine procedures. The cost to hospitals was $14 billion, but the anticipated surge of cases never came. Now, hospitals looking ahead to a possible surge in the fall are wrestling with whether they over-prepared last time around. Reuters

Starting this weekend, San Franciscans will be required to wear masks when outside their homes, with few exceptions. Businesses will be expected to enforce "no mask, no entry" policies. S.F. Chronicle | SFist

Wineries that serve food have been allowed to reopen. But tasting rooms have not. Now a Napa County winery is suing California, arguing that the rules are arbitrary and nonsensical. Sacramento Bee | Mercury News

Another park has been closed after being overrun by badly behaved visitors. Park officials said trash left behind at Paradise Falls in Ventura County filled multiple truckloads. Ventura County Star | KTLA

Twitter is doubling down on its fact-checking initiative after President Trump signed an executive order aimed at punishing the company for rebutting the accuracy of his tweets. Twitter added new fact-check labels to a tweet by a Chinese government spokesman as well as messages misidentifying a man as an officer involved in the death of George Floyd. N.Y. Times | Washington Post

Then early Friday, Twitter flagged another Trump message, this time for "glorifying violence." His tweet reads, "These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won't let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!" The Verge | CNBC

California regulators approved PG&E's $58 billion plan to emerge from bankruptcy caused by a series of deadly wildfires, the last major hurdle the embattled utility faced. The decision came a few hours after a federal judge ripped the company as a "recalcitrant criminal." "If there ever was a corporation that deserved to go to prison, it is PG&E," he said. Bloomberg | A.P.

On this week's California Sun Podcast, host Jeff Schechtman talks with Alex Padilla, California's secretary of state. Padilla talked about the state's embrace of mail-in ballots for a November election held under the cloud of a pandemic. "Voting by mail is proven and successful and secure," he said, "not just in states like California but in red and blue and purple states across the country." California Sun Podcast

"A very long time ago, there were no groves because everywhere was a grove with no roads to bisect and no people to erect stones and fences and bridges."

This homage to California's ancient redwoods — with beautiful video, spoken poetry, and a minimalist score — is food for the soul. Its title: "Growing is Forever." Vimeo (~3 mins)

Pictured above is a view of Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park, shared with the Sun by photographer Christian Scheiffele.

State park spotlight: Pictured above is Stanford Mansion, an 1857 Renaissance Revival structure that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger once declared California's own castle.

Located a couple blocks from the state capitol in Sacramento, it has served as home to three governors — including the railroad baron and university founder Leland Stanford — and as the venue for some of California's most coveted dinner parties. Later it housed a Catholic orphanage. In 2005, after a $22 million restoration, it opened as a public museum where visitors could tour its ornate interiors. It also functions as California's official reception center for foreign dignitaries. Below, a few more views. Parks.gov

The Dutch photographer Dana Lixenberg spent 22 years photographing the residents of Imperial Courts, one of L.A.'s oldest housing projects. Critics have called the images "riveting" and "earnestly beautiful." ImperialCourtsProject.com

UC Berkeley infectious disease professor: "I predict October is going to be our darkest month." SFGate.com

A Bay Area doctor told a broadcaster his hospital had seen "a year's worth of suicide attempts" in four weeks. The report rocketed through the conservative media. But it wasn't true. BuzzFeed News

The French photographer Ludwig Favre captures a California that shimmers with sunshine and shades of pastel. Here's a gorgeous photo series, titled "Once Upon a Time in California." Behance

A massive fire at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco devastated the city's crabbing and fishing industry. See dramatic drone footage of the fire's aftermath. Nathan Wilde/YouTube

Today's California Sun: Sonoma County sheriff says he won't enforce stay-home order, Twitter flags another Trump tweet for "glorifying violence," and a beautiful homage to California's ancient redwoods.

Twitter flags another Trump tweet // Sonoma County sheriff won't enforce order

Patients from Mexico overwhelm Southern California hospitals.

Trump prepares to sign order aimed at punishing Twitter.

And gorgeous photos from one of L.A.'s oldest housing projects.

Two Northern California counties hit the brakes on their reopening plans after upticks in reported infections. In Sonoma County, officials cited a doubling of its case rate. Lassen County identified its first spread of the disease late last week. "Unfortunately, we now have a serious problem in our community," a health official said. Press Democrat | Sacramento Bee | Lassen County Times

"We are seeing ample evidence that if we move too quickly, we can just have a huge explosion."
— Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf

"The political calculation is not what we should be doing right now."
— State Sen. Steve Glazer

"It's important that we keep our eyes on the facts and not let the loud voices of the few drive our decisions."
— Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove

A growing number of lawmakers and public health officials are speaking up with concerns that California is reopening too fast. Politico | KPIX 5/A.P.

Small community hospitals along the southern border have been flooded with Americans who have fallen ill in Mexico and crossed the border. Many are retirees or dual citizens working in Mexico. As a result, Imperial County has a much higher concentration of coronavirus cases — 760 per 100,000 residents — than any other county in California. Washington Post

California hits a grim milestone of 100,000 cases, a near doubling of reported infections in Del Norte County, and a first case at an immigration facility in Calexico. Here are the latest coronavirus totals, according to tallies by the S.F. Chronicle and N.Y. Times:

Today's California Sun: Patients from Mexico overwhelm Southern California hospitals, Trump prepares to sign order aimed at punishing Twitter, and gorgeous photos from one of L.A.'s oldest housing projects.

Newsletter Archive