Essential California Week in Review: Searching for progress

Health experts and schools districts are grasping for signs of progress as the coronavirus numbers paint a grim picture. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Los Angeles Times] Essential California August 1, 2020 [View in browser]( Good morning, and welcome to the [Essential California newsletter](. It’s Saturday, Aug. 1. Here’s a look at the top stories of the last week: More macabre milestones. As of Wednesday, all California counties now have coronavirus cases, as [Modoc County confirmed its first two](. On Thursday, the state [surpassed 9,000 deaths](. And on Friday, it [surpassed 500,000 confirmed cases]( and confirmed its first juvenile fatality from COVID-19, as [health experts searched for signs of progress](. Unemployment frustrations boil over. With 1 million unemployment claims still unpaid, Gov. Gavin Newsom promised Wednesday to fix the issues with the system, streamline the process and [eliminate the process by the end of September](. But lawmakers and jobless Californians say [that’s not soon enough](. California is also considering creating its [own $600 weekly unemployment benefit]( as [Washington remains at an impasse]( on renewing the federal one. Central Valley surge. Saying that Latinos in the Central Valley are being disproportionately harmed by the spread of COVID-19, Newsom planned to [send “strike teams” to eight counties]( and asked the Legislature to approve $52 million to improve testing, tracing and isolation protocols there. Outdoors, but not without risk. Newsom has ordered the reclosure of churches in much of the state amid a worrying resurgence of new coronavirus cases, pushing congregations into public spaces. But even outdoors, health officials say, services are [posing a risk to their communities](. School reopening controversy. Parents, schools and teachers are divided over how to proceed this fall. In L.A. County, [uncertainty over how online teaching will work]( has put teachers and district officials at odds. But in Orange County, the board of education is pushing hard to fully reopen, [with plans to sue the governor](. Problems for police reform. The LAPD plans to [expand its community policing program]( and has appointed a Black woman deputy chief. Still, problems persist: Prosecutors have begun to [review hundreds of criminal cases]( involving three officers charged earlier this month with falsifying evidence. And on Friday, the department faced new scrutiny as an officer’s body-camera footage showed a protester with his hands up being [shot in the head with a tactical round](. A dream deferred. The Trump administration will [deny new DACA applications]( for so-called “Dreamer” immigrants and cut renewals to one year from two years. The move has dire consequences for Californians like Beatriz Basurto, who struggled with resenting her U.S.-born siblings after [missing her chance to apply the first time](. City Hall corruption probe widens. Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar, who was arrested and charged with racketeering last month, [now faces additional charges]( including bribery and money laundering. And what will come of the real estate development at the center of it all? [It’s not clear](. Wigs and dad jokes. Months into quarantine, Latino dads are using TikTok to connect with their children. [And they’re finding devoted fans](. New business plan. The swanky Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, a famed hangout for celebrities and host to bashes for the rich and beautiful, will be converted into [a members-only hotel]( over the next year. Enjoying this newsletter? Your support helps us deliver the news that matters most. [Become a Times subscriber.]( ADVERTISEMENT This week’s most popular stories in Essential California 1. They defied health rules for a storybook San Francisco wedding. The virus didn’t spare them. [San Francisco Chronicle]( 2. These are a few of my favorite dogs. [Ukiah Daily Journal]( 3. Vehicle access shut to Yankee Jim’s swimming hole in Placer County due to overcrowding. [Santa Rosa Press-Democrat]( 4. “Watchmen” leads 2020 Emmy nominations; “Mrs. Maisel” and “Ozark” also score big. [Los Angeles Times]( 5. The Los Angeles River as you’ve never seen it — in augmented reality. [Los Angeles Times]( ADVERTISEMENT ICYMI, here are this week’s great reads Meet Theo, a homeless 7-year-old in Berkeley. All he wants is his own room and a kitchen where he can bake chocolate cake. He dreams of it while he sleeps in tents in parks and under the freeway. [San Francisco Chronicle]( Read Barack Obama’s eulogy for John Lewis. The former president’s speech was both a stirring portrait of a life and a call to action. [The Atlantic]( How to cheat the bestseller list. Buying your way into the book charts is more widespread than one might think. [The Critic]( They made a home under L.A.’s freeways. But soon they could be forced to move. A judge ordered officials to provide space in shelters or alternative housing for homeless residents living near freeways. But where will they go? [Los Angeles Times]( Poem of the week: “All My Friends Are Finding New Beliefs” by Christian Wiman. [Poetry Foundation]( Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints, ideas and unrelated book recommendations to [Julia Wick.](mailto:julia.wick@latimes.com) Follow her on Twitter [@Sherlyholmes](. (And a giant thanks to the legendary [Laura Blasey]( for all her help on the Saturday edition.) ADVERTISEMENT Thank you for reading the Los Angeles Times Essential California newsletter. Invite your friends, relatives, coworkers to sign up [here](. Not a subscriber? Get unlimited digital access to latimes.com. [Subscribe here](. [Los Angeles Times] Copyright © 2020, Los Angeles Times 2300 E. Imperial Highway, El Segundo, California, 90245 1-800-LA-TIMES | [latimes.com]( *Advertisers have no control over editorial decisions or content. If you're interested in placing an ad or classified, get in touch [here](. We'd love your feedback on this newsletter, please send your thoughts and suggestions [here](mailto:newsletters@latimes.com). You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from The Los Angeles Times. 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