Tag Archives: Stockton

OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush created ‘mousetrap for billionaires’, says friend – The Guardian

  1. OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush created ‘mousetrap for billionaires’, says friend The Guardian
  2. OceanGate CEO created ‘mouse trap for billionaires,’ murdered his passengers: friend New York Post
  3. OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush designed billionaire ‘mousetrap’: friend Insider
  4. OceanGate CEO Rush’s friend calls Titan sub a ‘mouse trap for billionaires’ Hindustan Times
  5. OceanGate used a mothership too small to carry the Titan in 2023, dragging it behind on a platform to save money, report says Yahoo News
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News

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OceanGate’s former finance director said she quit when Stockton Rush asked her to be the Titanic submersible’s chief pilot after firing the original one for raising safety issues: report – Yahoo News

  1. OceanGate’s former finance director said she quit when Stockton Rush asked her to be the Titanic submersible’s chief pilot after firing the original one for raising safety issues: report Yahoo News
  2. Report: Ex-OceanGate employee sent email warning about doomed submersible CNN
  3. Titan submersible may have tried to resurface before tragedy NewsNation Now
  4. Stockton Rush deliberately structured OceanGate’s Titanic operations to be outside US jurisdiction, says former employee: report Yahoo News
  5. New Yorker: An ex-OceanGate employee once sent an ominous email raising safety concerns about the doomed Titan submersible CNN
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News

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Suspected Stockton serial killer arrested, was on a ‘mission to kill’

A suspected serial killer in the California city of Stockton was arrested Saturday and police say they believe he was “out hunting” when he was nabbed.

“We are sure we stopped another killing,” Chief Stanley McFadden, of the Stockton Police Department, said at a news conference Saturday.

Wesley Brownlee, 43, was arrested in connection with six unprovoked murders of men ages 21 to 54 over the last few months. He was booked on a homicide charge Saturday.

Police said that surveillance teams followed Brownlee while he was driving, and stopped in area of Village Green Drive and Winslow Avenue around 2 a.m. Saturday morning.

Wesley Brownlee, 43, was arrested and charged with homicide Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Authorities believe he is connected to a series of killings in Stockton, Calif.

Stockton Police Department

“Our surveillance team followed this person while he was driving. We watched his patterns and determined early this morning; he was on a mission to kill. He was out hunting,” McFadden said.

McFadden added, “As officers made contact with him, he was wearing dark clothing and a mask around his neck. He was also armed with a firearm when he was taken into custody.”

Brown will be arraigned Tuesday and more charges are likely, police said.

The San Joaquin County’s Office of the Medical Examiner identified the victims. Paul Yaw, 35, was killed on July 8; Salvador Debudey Jr., 43, died on Aug. 11; Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez, 21, was killed on Aug. 30; Juan Cruz, 52, was the Sept. 21 victim; and Lawrence Lopez Sr., 54, was slain on Sept. 27.

The men were alone at the time when they were fatally shot, officials said. All of the killings took place at night or in the early morning hours, police said.

Another shooting, of a 46-year-old Black woman at Park Street and Union Street in Stockton at 3:20 a.m. on April 16, 2021, was also linked to the investigation, police said earlier this month. The woman survived her injuries in that shooting, they said.

Police said that a motive is not known for the killings but it is believed to have been intentional.

ABC News’ Mark Osborne and Emily Shapiro contributed to this report.

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Stockton, California police search for apparent serial killer tied to 6 murders, victims identified; $95,000 reward offered

STOCKTON, Calif. — Six unprovoked murders of men ages 21 to 54 Since April 2021 appear to be the work of one person, according to police in Stockton, California.

Authorities are searching for a person of interest tied to the six slayings. All of the victims were men and all were alone at the time they were fatally shot, police said. The killings all happened at night or in the early morning hours.

Stockton, Calif., police released a photo of a person of interest in the murders of five men in the city since July.

Stockton Police Department

Police released only a few details about the string of murders and when they happened: a 35-year-old man fatally shot at 12:31 a.m. on July 8; a 43-year-old man fatally shot at 9:49 p.m. on Aug. 11; a 21-year-old man fatally shot at 6:41 a.m. on Aug. 30; a 52-year-old man fatally shot at 4:27 a.m. on Sept. 21; and a 54-year-old man fatally shot at 1:53 a.m. on Sept. 27.

While detectives continue to follow up on this series, they confirmed two additional cases from April 2021 that believed to be linked, with one tied to the Bay Area.

Police say a 46-year-old woman was shot at Park Street and Union Street in Stockton at around 3:20 a .m. on April 16, 2021. The women survived her injuries. A 40-year-old man was fatally shot in Oakland, California, at around 4:18 a.m. on April 10, 2021.

Stockton police told ABC News that all of the victims were ambushed, none were robbed and none of the incidents were drug- or gang-related. Police also told ABC News they have physical evidence linking the five crime scenes together.

On Monday, San Joaquin County’s Office of the Medical Examiner identified the victims. Paul Yaw, 35, was killed on July 8; Salvador Debudey Jr., 43, died on Aug. 11; Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez, 21, was killed on Aug. 30; Juan Cruz, 52, was the Sept. 21 victim; and Lawrence Lopez Sr., 54, was slain on Sept. 27.

Lorenzo Lopez “was just a person who was out here at the wrong place at the wrong time at the wrong circumstance,” his brother Jerry Lopez told ABC Sacramento affiliate KXTV. “It’s hard to process that this has happened. I mean, me and my brother have been like twins. We were a year a part so we were pretty close.”

Paul Yaw “was a good boy who grew into a good man with a big heart. He will always live on in our hearts. He was always there for you if you needed him,” the family said in a statement to ABC News. “He was a son, brother, father, grandson, nephew and cousin. I still can’t believe he’s not coming back.”

The city of Stockton said it was putting forward a $95,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the investigation. Stockton Crime Stoppers is posting an additional $10,000 reward. And late Monday, Stockton police increased the reward to $95,000 after an anonymous donation.

The day after Lopez’s killing, Stockton police said they were not sure if the killings were related.

“(We’re) still looking at it from a random point of view, but we do see some similarities,” Police Chief Stanley McFadden said Wednesday. “We have been provided absolutely zero evidence that leads us to believe that one individual is running rampant in the city of Stockton killing people.”

But that changed two days later when the department tied the five killings together and released an image of a person of interest.

ABC News’ Caroline Guthrie and Lisa Sivertsen contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2022 ABC, Inc.



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Stockton, California police search for apparent serial killer tied to 5 murders

Five unprovoked murders in the past several months appear to be the work of one person, according to the Stockton, California, Police Department.

Authorities are searching for a person of interest tied to the five slayings, the first of which occurred on July 8. All of the victims were men and all were alone at the time they were fatally shot, police said.

The killings all happened at night or in the early morning hours.

Police released only a few details about the string of murders and when they happened: a 35-year-old man fatally shot at 12:31 a.m. on July 8; a 43-year-old man fatally shot at 9:49 p.m. on Aug. 11; a 21-year-old man fatally shot at 6:41 a.m. on Aug. 30; a 52-year-old man fatally shot at 4:27 a.m. on Sept. 21; and a 54-year-old man fatally shot at 1:53 a.m. on Sept. 27.

Stockton police told ABC News that all of the victims were ambushed, none were robbed and none were drug- or gang-related. Police also told ABC News that they have physical evidence linking the five crime scenes together.

Stockton, Calif., police released a photo of a person of interest in the murders of five men in the city since July.

Stockton Police Department

None of the victims were publicly identified by police, but the family of the most recent victim identified him as Lorenzo Lopez, according to Sacramento ABC affiliate KXTV.

“He was just a person who was out here at the wrong place at the wrong time at the wrong circumstance,” his brother Jerry Lopez told KXTV. “It’s hard to process that this has happened. I mean, me and my brother have been like twins. We were a year a part so we were pretty close.”

The city of Stockton said it was putting forward a $75,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the investigation. Stockton Crime Stoppers is posting an additional $10,000 reward.

The day after Lopez’s killing, Stockton police had said at a press conference they were not sure if the string of killings were related.

“We’re still looking at it from a random point of view, but we do see some similarities,” Police Chief Stanley McFadden said Wednesday. “We have been provided absolutely zero evidence that leads us to believe that one individual is running rampant in the city of Stockton killing people.”

But that changed two days later when the department tied the five killings together and released an image of a person of interest.

ABC News’ Caroline Guthrie contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2022 ABC, Inc.



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Stockton police seeking person of interest in 5 recent homicides, reward offered

A California city is offering an $85,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the investigation of five recent homicides that police believe are related.

Between July and September, five men have been shot dead within the city of Stockton during the early morning or evening hours.

In a Facebook post Friday, Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden said investigators have reviewed many hours of surveillance footage and believe they have located a person of interest.

“Our detectives and task force officers have been working around the clock on these investigations,” McFadden said in the post. “We are committed to protecting our community and solving these cases utilizing all the resources at our disposal including YOU. We need YOUR help!!!!”

LOS ANGELES GANG MEMBERS ARRESTED IN SHOOTING DEATH OF 12-YEAR-OLD BOY

Police in Stockton, Calif. release a surveillance photo of the person of interest in five recent homicides.
(Stockton Police Department/Facebook)

Based on the investigation and reports to police, McFadden said it is believed the same person committed the following crimes:

  • The shooting death of a 35-year-old White man in the 5600 block of Kermit Lane at 12:31 a.m. on July 8.
  • The shooting death of a 43-year-old Hispanic man in the 4900 block of West Lane at 9:49 p.m. on Aug. 11.
  • The shooting death of a 21-year-old Hispanic man in the 800 block E. Hammer Lane at 6:41 a.m. on Aug. 30.
  • The shooting death of a 52-year-old Hispanic man in the 4400 block of Manchester Avenue at 4:27 a.m. on Sept. 21.
  • The shooting death of a 54-year-old Hispanic man in the 900 block of Porter Avenue at 1:53 a.m. on Sept. 27.

McFadden added that each victim was alone when he was fatally shot.

Stockton police share a map showing the locations of five recent homicides within the city.
(Stockton Police Department/Facebook)

EX-COWBOYS TIGHT END GAVIN ESCOBAR, ANOTHER ROCK CLIMBER FOUND DEAD IN CALIFORNIA, OFFICIALS SAY

On Friday, McFadden said Stockton City Manager Harry Black told the police department that the city is offering a $75,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Crime Stoppers is offering an additional $10,000 in cash, bringing the reward total to $85,000.

“If anyone has information regarding these investigations, call us immediately,” McFadden urged. “Please remember our victims have grieving family members who need resolution. If you know something, say something.”

Tips can be called into 209-937-8167 or emailed to policetips@stocktonca.gov or anonymously to Stockton Crime Stoppers at 209-946-0600. Any available video surveillance can also be submitted here.

Three police vehicles with the Stockton Police Department.
(Stockton Police Department)

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McFadden ended the statement by reminding citizens to remain vigilant, have good situational awareness, avoid isolated areas and to travel in well-lit areas. He also encouraged traveling with a friend.

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Stockton fire captain dies after being shot while battling fire, police say

STOCKTON, Calif. — Hundreds of North Valley firefighters and officers paid their respects after a fire captain was shot and killed on the job Monday.

An investigation is underway and a 67-year-old man is now in custody.

Stockton Fire Department Chief Rick Edwards shared a message directly to his firefighters as he announced 47-year-old Fire Captain Vidal “Max” Fortuna was shot and killed while on duty.

“My heart breaks with you, but we will get through this,” Stockton Fire Department Chief Rick Edwards said to his firefighters during a press conference Monday morning.

The 21-year veteran was a husband and father to two grown children.

A procession took place as Fortuna’s body was moved from San Joaquin County Hospital to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department.

Firefighters carried his flag-draped casket inside.

“Max was a firefighter who showed up every day and never complained about being on the job,” said Mario Gardea, the president of the Stockton Firefighters Union 456.

It was just before 5 in the morning when firefighters responded to a dumpster fire close to a building at Washington and Aurora Street.

Officials say, as they were trying to put out the fire, shots were fired.

Stockton Police responded and took a 67-year-old man into custody.

They also recovered a firearm at the scene.

Investigators have not released details about what led up to the shooting, but Robert Somerville III says his dad, Robert Somerville Jr., is the man police have in custody.

He believes this was all a terrible accident.

“First off, I want to say my condolences to the firefighters’ family. Like it’s truly, I could not even, I would not even want to be in that situation right now,” said Somerville III.

He said his dad uses the building for a variety of things, but mainly, to build food trucks.

He said his father works late hours and, many times, falls asleep at the shop.

The warehouse, so large, Somerville III said it’s impossible to hear someone knock on the door.

He thinks his dad may have been startled awake and was trying to protect himself.

“It’s my understanding that my dad thought someone was breaking in,” said Somerville III.

Action News reached out to the Stockton Police Department to see if the suspect they have in custody will be arrested and, if so, what charges he will be booked on.

Officials say they’re still working with the district attorney to make that determination.

Copyright © 2022 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.



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Robert Durst, real estate tycoon convicted of murder, dies

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Robert Durst, the wealthy New York real estate heir and failed fugitive dogged for decades with suspicion in the disappearance and deaths of those around him before he was convicted last year of killing his best friend, has died. He was 78.

Durst died of natural causes Monday in a hospital outside the California prison where he was serving a life sentence, according to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Durst had been held in a hospital lockup in Stockton due to a litany of ailments.

Durst was convicted in September of shooting Susan Berman at point-blank range at her Los Angeles home in 2000. He was sentenced Oct. 14 to life in prison without parole.

Durst had long been suspected of killing his wife, Kathie, who went missing in New York 1982 and was declared legally dead decades later.

But only after Los Angeles prosecutors proved he silenced Berman to prevent her from telling police she helped cover up Kathie’s killing was Durst indicted by a New York grand jury in November for second-degree murder in his wife’s death.

Westchester County prosecutors, who had been trying to get Durst transferred there to face the charge, said they planned to reveal new details about the case in coming days.

“After 40 years spent seeking justice for her death, I know how upsetting this news must be for Kathleen Durst’s family,” District Attorney Miriam Rocah said in a statement. “We had hoped to allow them the opportunity to see Mr. Durst finally face charges for Kathleen’s murder because we know that all families never stop wanting closure, justice and accountability.”

Los Angeles prosecutors told jurors Durst also got away with murder in Texas after shooting a man who discovered his identity when he was hiding out in Galveston in 2001. Durst was acquitted of murder in that case in 2003, after testifying he shot the man as they struggled for a gun.

Deputy District Attorney John Lewin said Los Angeles jurors told him after the verdict that they believed Durst had killed his wife and murdered Morris Black in Texas.

Durst’s undoing was in large part due to his hubris.

After beating the charge in Texas, in a bid to rehabilitate his image, he reached out to filmmakers who had portrayed his life — not favorably — in the 2010 big screen feature, “All Good Things,” starring Ryan Gosling as Durst. He offered to sit down for a series of lengthy interviews about his life.

It was a decision he told jurors he deeply regretted.

Durst, who later said he was using methamphetamine during the interviews, made several damning statements including a stunning confession during an unguarded moment in the six-part HBO documentary series “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst.”

The show made his name known to a new generation and brought renewed scrutiny and suspicion from authorities.

The night before the final episode aired, Durst was arrested in Berman’s killing while hiding out under an alias in a New Orleans hotel, where he was caught with a gun, more than $40,000 cash and a head-to-shoulders latex mask for a presumed getaway.

The finale’s climax came with him mumbling to himself in a bathroom while still wearing hot mic saying: “You’re caught! What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course.”

The quotes were later revealed to have been manipulated for dramatic effect but the production — done against the advice of Durst’s lawyers and friends — dredged up new evidence including an envelope that connected him to the scene of Berman’s killing as well as incriminating statements he made.

Police had received a note directing them to Berman’s home with only the word “CADAVER” written in block letters.

In interviews given between 2010 and 2015, Durst told the makers of the “The Jinx” that he didn’t write the note, but whoever did had killed her.

“You’re writing a note to the police that only the killer could have written,” Durst said.

His defense lawyers conceded in the run-up to trial that Durst had written the note, and prosecutors said it amounted to a confession.

Clips from “The Jinx,” and “All Good Things” had starring roles at trial.

As did Durst himself. He took the risk of again taking the stand for what turned out to be about three weeks of testimony. It didn’t work as it had in Texas.

Under devastating cross-examination by prosecutor Lewin, Durst admitted he lied under oath in the past and would do it again to dodge trouble.

“‘Did you kill Susan Berman?’ is strictly a hypothetical,” Durst said from the stand. “I did not kill Susan Berman. But if I had, I would lie about it.”

The jury promptly returned a guilty verdict.

It long appeared he would avoid any convictions.

Durst went on the run in late 2000 after New York authorities reopened an investigation into his wife’s disappearance, renting a modest apartment in Galveston and disguising himself as a mute woman.

In 2001, the body parts of a neighbor, Black, began washing up in Galveston Bay.

Arrested in the killing, Durst jumped bail. He was caught shoplifting a sandwich six weeks later in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he had gone to college. Police found $37,000 cash and two handguns in his car.

He later quipped that he was “the worst fugitive the world has ever met.”

He would testify that Black had pulled a gun on him and died when the weapon went off during a struggle.

He told jurors in detail how he bought tools and downed a bottle of Jack Daniels before dismembering Black’s body and tossing it out to sea. While he was cleared of murder, he pleaded guilty to violating his bail, and to evidence tampering for the dismemberment. He served three years in prison.

Durst had bladder cancer and his health deteriorated during the Berman trial. He was escorted into court in a wheelchair wearing prison attire each day because his attorneys said he was unable to change into a suit. But the judge declined further delays after a 14-month pause during the coronavirus pandemic.

At his sentencing, Durst entered the courtroom with a wide-eyed vacant stare. Attorney Dick DeGuerin said he was “very, very sick” — the worst he looked in the 20 years he spent representing him.

Near the end of the hearing after Berman’s loved ones told the judge that her death upended their lives, Durst coughed hard and appeared to struggle to breathe. His chest heaved and he pulled his mask down below his mouth to gulp for air.

He was hospitalized two days later with COVID-19 and DeGuerin said he was on a ventilator. But Durst apparently recovered and was transferred to state prison where mug shots showed no sign of a ventilator.

The son of real estate magnate Seymour Durst, Robert Durst was born April 12, 1943, and grew up in Scarsdale, New York. He would later say that at age 7, he witnessed his mother’s death in a fall from their home.

He graduated with an economics degree in 1965 from Lehigh University, where he played lacrosse. He entered a doctoral program at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he met Berman, but dropped out and returned to New York in 1969.

He became a developer in the family business, but his father passed him over to make his younger brother, and rival, Douglas the head of the Durst Organization in 1992.

Durst broke ties with his family, reaching a settlement with a family trust. He was estimated to have a fortune of about $100 million.

Douglas Durst testified at trial that he feared his brother wanted to kill him.

“Bob lived a sad, painful and tragic life,” he said in a statement Monday. “We hope his death brings some closure to those he hurt.”

In 1971, Robert Durst met Kathie McCormack, and the two married on his 30th birthday in 1973.

In January 1982, his wife was a student in her final year at medical school when she disappeared. She had shown up unexpectedly at a friend’s dinner party in Newtown, Connecticut, then left after a call from her husband to return to their home in South Salem, New York.

Robert Durst told police he last saw her when he put her on a train to stay at their apartment in Manhattan because she had classes the next day.

Prosecutors said Berman, the daughter of a Las Vegas mobster, posed as Kathie Durst to call Albert Einstein College of Medicine the next morning to say she was sick and wouldn’t be at her hospital rotation. The call provided an alibi for Robert Durst because it made it appear his wife made it safely to Manhattan after he saw her.

He would divorce her eight years later, claiming spousal abandonment, and in 2017, at her family’s request, she was declared legally dead.

Kathie McCormack Durst’s family said they plan to provide an update on Jan. 31 — the 40th anniversary of her disappearance — into an investigation of others who helped cover up her killing, attorney Robert Abrams said.

Robert Durst is survived by his second wife Debrah Charatan, whom he married in 2000. He had no children.

Under California law, a conviction is vacated if a defendant dies while the case is under appeal, said Laurie Levenson, a law professor at Loyola Law School.

Attorney Chip Lewis said Durst had appealed.

___

Associated Press writer Michelle A. Monroe in Phoenix contributed.

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Where to get shots, common questions answered

Now that everyone 12 and older is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S., millions of Californians have been partially or fully vaccinated and the state fully reopened its economy June 15.Below you will find breakdowns of vaccination rates by area as well as answers to commonly asked questions about the vaccines, masks, do’s and don’ts and more:How many vaccines have been administered in California? | MORE | How many doses have been administered by California county, ZIP codeVaccine Tracker: How many people have been vaccinated across the country? Latest COVID-19 headlines Health officials flag ‘small’ reaction risk with Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine | Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine may pose a “small possible risk” of a rare but potentially dangerous neurological reaction, U.S. health officials said Monday. Pfizer to discuss COVID-19 vaccine booster with US officials Monday. Here’s what to expect | Pfizer says it plans to meet with top U.S. health officials Monday to discuss the drugmaker’s request for federal authorization of a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine as President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser acknowledged that “it is entirely conceivable, maybe likely” that booster shots will be needed. The beat goes on as Sacramento musicians start live gigs post-pandemic | The state’s economy getting back up and running again is music to the ears of audiences and musicians alike. ‘Treating all kids the same’: California schools still planning masks indoors, after latest CDC guidance | California schools are still planning to require that masks be worn indoors after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that teachers and students vaccinated against COVID-19 did not need to mask up, state health officials said. The delta variant is spreading in CA. What parents with unvaccinated kids need to know this summer |The delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is spreading in California, but there are currently no vaccines approved for kids under the age of 12. ‘We’ve seen almost an entire takeover in the delta variant’: Uptick in COVID-19 cases causing alarm | The U.S. has surpassed 20,000 new COVID-19 cases for the fourth day in a row as the highly contagious delta variant persists in its track in being the most common form of the coronavirus in the country. Latest COVID-19 cases in California 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(App users, click here to see the latest COVID-19 case and testing numbers).Where can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?Californians can get their COVID-19 shots at community vaccination sites, doctor’s offices, clinics and pharmacies.You can find the state’s latest updates on covid19.ca.gov/vaccines and check the notification tool My Turn for information on eligibility and to schedule appointments. County health department websites are also a great tool for seeing what vaccine options are available. The state also promotes the online tool Vaccine Finder to help in locating a vaccination site near you.Pharmacy vaccine information:CVSRite AidWalgreensFrequently asked questions:Do I still have to wear a mask after getting the COVID-19 vaccine?In some cases. The CDC’s updated mask guidance says fully vaccinated Americans do not need to wear masks or physically distance indoors or outdoors, with some exceptions. People should wear masks in crowded indoor locations like airplanes, buses, hospitals and prisons. | MORE | What you need to know about California’s June 15 reopening: Masks, travel and moreHere are other cases where fully vaccinated people will need to wear a mask inside in California: Indoors in K-12 schools, child care and other youth settings. (Note: This may change as updated K-12 schools guidance is forthcoming from the CDC.)Homeless shelters, emergency shelters and cooling centersUnvaccinated people should continue to wear masks indoors at places like restaurants, movie theaters and grocery stores, says California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly.Additionally, Californians can continue to wear masks if they choose, especially around children and others who are vulnerable or not yet eligible for inoculation.Business owners could do the following: Ask customers if they are fully vaccinated so they can go without masks; ask customers to prove they are fully vaccinated so they can go without masks; require all customers to continue wearing masks regardless of whether or not they’re vaccinated.Should I get the vaccine if I’ve already had COVID-19?Yes. According to Dr. Stuart Cohen, chief of infectious diseases at UC Davis Health, data shows that someone who had and recovered from COVID-19 could be immune for about eight months, but that immunity would wane over time and be less effective as the virus changes.”So we still tell people that if they’ve had COVID-19, they should get vaccinated because that will boost their immune system and maybe cause the immunity to last longer. We just want people to wait probably three months after they have been diagnosed, or more so that they avoid getting a more severe reaction to the vaccine,” Dr. Cohen said.| MORE | COVID-19 Vaccine Questions: Can I test positive after getting the shot? What if I’ve already had COVID?Will the vaccine protect against the delta variant?The highly contagious delta strain of the COVID-19 virus has been circulating in the Greater Sacramento region for months now.According to experts, the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are all effective against the new variant. However, some doctors are concerned about the areas with low vaccination rates because the virus could continue to mutate, and the next mutations could have a bigger impact on the vaccine efficacy.| MORE | COVID-19 delta variant in Sacramento region: How far has it spread and what are doctors recommending?What does it mean to be ‘fully vaccinated?’According to the CDC, people are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. If you do not meet those requirements, regardless of age, you are not fully vaccinated. | MORE | Keep your COVID-19 vaccine card safe with a plastic holder or a protective sleeveDo I need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test or vaccination prior to travel?If you choose to travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travel. You do not need to self-quarantine after travel.If traveling internationally, pay close attention to the situation at your international destination before traveling outside the United States. You do not need to get tested before leaving the United States unless your destination requires it.You do need to show a negative test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding an international flight to the United States.The CDC recommends you still get tested 3-5 days after international travel, but you do not need to self-quarantine after arriving in the United States.What should I know about the vaccines that have received emergency use authorization from the FDA?Moderna and Pfizer vaccinesHailed as vaccine game-changers for the medical community, health officials say both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are different than any other used for viruses such as the flu, measles or polio.Those COVID-19 vaccines currently approved under emergency use authorization contain what is called messenger RNA, which is being used to create new types of vaccines to protect against infectious diseases.According to the CDC, “to trigger an immune response, many vaccines put a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies. Not mRNA vaccines. Instead, they teach our cells how to make a protein — or even just a piece of a protein — that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies.”Johnson & Johnson’s vaccineOn Feb. 28, the Food and Drug Administration authorized Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine — the first single-dose COVID-19 vaccine available in the U.S. and is one that “checks nearly all the boxes.”The vaccine, made by Janssen, J&J’s vaccine arm, was said to be safe and effective, and it’s considered flexible. It’s a single dose, and it doesn’t require special storage.The vaccine is authorized for people ages 18 and older.The CDC and the FDA on April 13 said they were investigating several cases of unusual clots that occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination. The clots occurred in veins that drain blood from the brain and occurred together with low platelets. As a result, the agencies recommended a “pause” in vaccinations with J&J’s vaccine so investigators could look into the cases. Health officials said in an update on April 23 they were aware of 15 cases of the unusual clots since the government authorized use of the vaccine and nearly 8 million shots were given. All were women, most of them under 50. Three died, and seven remained hospitalized.The CDC and FDA lifted the pause, deciding that the vaccine’s benefits outweighed the rare risk of blood clots. They said the risk could be handled with warnings to help younger women decide if they should use that shot or an alternative.What vaccine side effects should I know about? You may have side effects that feel like flu, but they should go away in a couple of days, according to the CDC. Common side effects could include pain, swelling, fever, chills, tiredness and headache. A few people have experienced allergic reactions. If you have had an allergic reaction to a vaccine in the past, the CDC says to contact your doctor about the COVID-19 vaccine.Click here for more information from the CDC. More questions answered with our Get the Facts on the Vax reportsKCRA 3 has taken viewer questions about the vaccine to health experts. If you have other questions, fill out our survey or send us an email at newstips@kcra.com.Get the Facts on the Vax: Do you have to get multiple doses of the vaccine for it to be effective?Get the Facts on the Vax: When will the J&J vaccine be available for children 12 and up?Get the Facts on the Vax: Will I be charged for a COVID-19 vaccine?Get the Facts on the Vax: Why should I get vaccinated if I already had COVID-19?Get the Facts on the Vax: For how long will the vaccines be effective?Get the Facts on the Vax: Who should still be getting tested for COVID-19?Can COVID-19 vaccines affect my period?So you got the COVID-19 vaccine: 9 common questions answeredQ&A: Dr. Blumberg answers viewer questions about COVID-19 vaccine safetyYour guide to every COVID-19 vaccine questionYour COVID-19 Vaccine Questions: Facebook Live with Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis HealthCOVID-19 Vaccine Questions: Can I test positive after getting the shot? What if I’ve already had COVID? Should I get tested for COVID-19? Where can I get a test in California? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people should consider taking a COVID-19 test if you:Have symptoms of COVID-19.Have had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) with someone with confirmed COVID-19.*Have been asked or referred to get testing by their health care provider, local/external icon or state ​health department.*Fully vaccinated people without COVID-19 symptoms do not need to be tested after being exposed to someone with COVID-19. Here is where you can search for a testing site by address, city, county or ZIP code in California. For more information on testing, visit here.The FDA has also approved a test for COVID-19 that you can take at home. The test kits are available for purchase on Amazon with a turnaround time for results of 24 to 72 hours after the sample is shipped and received.How to protect yourself of COVID-19Here is where you find the state’s latest information on COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.There are six ways to protect yourself and family, according to the California Department of Public Health:• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.• Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.• Cover a cough or sneeze with your sleeve, or disposable tissue. Wash your hands afterward.• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.• Stay away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.• Follow guidance from public health officials.What are the symptoms of COVID-19? Per the CDC, these are the symptoms you should watch out for:Fever or chillsCoughShortness of breath or difficulty breathingFatigueMuscle or body achesHeadacheNew loss of taste or smellSore throatCongestion or runny noseNausea or vomitingDiarrheaThis list does not include all possible symptoms. The CDC says to look for emergency warning signs for coronavirus. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:Trouble breathingPersistent pain or pressure in the chestNew confusionInability to wake or stay awakeBluish lips or face Call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you. Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.Who is most at risk for coronavirus?Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms of COVID-19, according to the CDC.Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from the virus.— This Associated Press contributed to this report.

Now that everyone 12 and older is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S., millions of Californians have been partially or fully vaccinated and the state fully reopened its economy June 15.

Below you will find breakdowns of vaccination rates by area as well as answers to commonly asked questions about the vaccines, masks, do’s and don’ts and more:

How many vaccines have been administered in California?

| MORE | How many doses have been administered by California county, ZIP code

Vaccine Tracker: How many people have been vaccinated across the country?

Latest COVID-19 headlines

Latest COVID-19 cases in California

(App users, click here to see the latest COVID-19 case and testing numbers).

Where can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Californians can get their COVID-19 shots at community vaccination sites, doctor’s offices, clinics and pharmacies.

You can find the state’s latest updates on covid19.ca.gov/vaccines and check the notification tool My Turn for information on eligibility and to schedule appointments. County health department websites are also a great tool for seeing what vaccine options are available. The state also promotes the online tool Vaccine Finder to help in locating a vaccination site near you.

Pharmacy vaccine information:
CVS
Rite Aid
Walgreens

Frequently asked questions:

Do I still have to wear a mask after getting the COVID-19 vaccine?

In some cases. The CDC’s updated mask guidance says fully vaccinated Americans do not need to wear masks or physically distance indoors or outdoors, with some exceptions. People should wear masks in crowded indoor locations like airplanes, buses, hospitals and prisons.

| MORE | What you need to know about California’s June 15 reopening: Masks, travel and more

Here are other cases where fully vaccinated people will need to wear a mask inside in California:

  • Indoors in K-12 schools, child care and other youth settings. (Note: This may change as updated K-12 schools guidance is forthcoming from the CDC.)
  • Homeless shelters, emergency shelters and cooling centers

Unvaccinated people should continue to wear masks indoors at places like restaurants, movie theaters and grocery stores, says California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly.

Additionally, Californians can continue to wear masks if they choose, especially around children and others who are vulnerable or not yet eligible for inoculation.

Business owners could do the following: Ask customers if they are fully vaccinated so they can go without masks; ask customers to prove they are fully vaccinated so they can go without masks; require all customers to continue wearing masks regardless of whether or not they’re vaccinated.

Should I get the vaccine if I’ve already had COVID-19?

Yes. According to Dr. Stuart Cohen, chief of infectious diseases at UC Davis Health, data shows that someone who had and recovered from COVID-19 could be immune for about eight months, but that immunity would wane over time and be less effective as the virus changes.

“So we still tell people that if they’ve had COVID-19, they should get vaccinated because that will boost their immune system and maybe cause the immunity to last longer. We just want people to wait probably three months after they have been diagnosed, or more so that they avoid getting a more severe reaction to the vaccine,” Dr. Cohen said.

| MORE | COVID-19 Vaccine Questions: Can I test positive after getting the shot? What if I’ve already had COVID?

Will the vaccine protect against the delta variant?

The highly contagious delta strain of the COVID-19 virus has been circulating in the Greater Sacramento region for months now.

According to experts, the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are all effective against the new variant. However, some doctors are concerned about the areas with low vaccination rates because the virus could continue to mutate, and the next mutations could have a bigger impact on the vaccine efficacy.

| MORE | COVID-19 delta variant in Sacramento region: How far has it spread and what are doctors recommending?

What does it mean to be ‘fully vaccinated?’

According to the CDC, people are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. If you do not meet those requirements, regardless of age, you are not fully vaccinated.

| MORE | Keep your COVID-19 vaccine card safe with a plastic holder or a protective sleeve

Do I need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test or vaccination prior to travel?

If you choose to travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travel. You do not need to self-quarantine after travel.

If traveling internationally, pay close attention to the situation at your international destination before traveling outside the United States. You do not need to get tested before leaving the United States unless your destination requires it.

You do need to show a negative test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding an international flight to the United States.

The CDC recommends you still get tested 3-5 days after international travel, but you do not need to self-quarantine after arriving in the United States.

What should I know about the vaccines that have received emergency use authorization from the FDA?

Moderna and Pfizer vaccines

Hailed as vaccine game-changers for the medical community, health officials say both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are different than any other used for viruses such as the flu, measles or polio.

Those COVID-19 vaccines currently approved under emergency use authorization contain what is called messenger RNA, which is being used to create new types of vaccines to protect against infectious diseases.

According to the CDC, “to trigger an immune response, many vaccines put a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies. Not mRNA vaccines. Instead, they teach our cells how to make a protein — or even just a piece of a protein — that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies.”

Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine

On Feb. 28, the Food and Drug Administration authorized Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine — the first single-dose COVID-19 vaccine available in the U.S. and is one that “checks nearly all the boxes.”

The vaccine, made by Janssen, J&J’s vaccine arm, was said to be safe and effective, and it’s considered flexible. It’s a single dose, and it doesn’t require special storage.

The vaccine is authorized for people ages 18 and older.

The CDC and the FDA on April 13 said they were investigating several cases of unusual clots that occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination. The clots occurred in veins that drain blood from the brain and occurred together with low platelets.

As a result, the agencies recommended a “pause” in vaccinations with J&J’s vaccine so investigators could look into the cases.

Health officials said in an update on April 23 they were aware of 15 cases of the unusual clots since the government authorized use of the vaccine and nearly 8 million shots were given. All were women, most of them under 50. Three died, and seven remained hospitalized.

The CDC and FDA lifted the pause, deciding that the vaccine’s benefits outweighed the rare risk of blood clots. They said the risk could be handled with warnings to help younger women decide if they should use that shot or an alternative.

What vaccine side effects should I know about?

You may have side effects that feel like flu, but they should go away in a couple of days, according to the CDC. Common side effects could include pain, swelling, fever, chills, tiredness and headache.

A few people have experienced allergic reactions. If you have had an allergic reaction to a vaccine in the past, the CDC says to contact your doctor about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Click here for more information from the CDC.

More questions answered with our Get the Facts on the Vax reports

KCRA 3 has taken viewer questions about the vaccine to health experts. If you have other questions, fill out our survey or send us an email at newstips@kcra.com.


Should I get tested for COVID-19? Where can I get a test in California?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people should consider taking a COVID-19 test if you:

  • Have symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Have had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) with someone with confirmed COVID-19.*
  • Have been asked or referred to get testing by their health care provider, local/external icon or state ​health department.

*Fully vaccinated people without COVID-19 symptoms do not need to be tested after being exposed to someone with COVID-19.

Here is where you can search for a testing site by address, city, county or ZIP code in California. For more information on testing, visit here.

The FDA has also approved a test for COVID-19 that you can take at home. The test kits are available for purchase on Amazon with a turnaround time for results of 24 to 72 hours after the sample is shipped and received.


How to protect yourself of COVID-19

Here is where you find the state’s latest information on COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

There are six ways to protect yourself and family, according to the California Department of Public Health:

• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

• Cover a cough or sneeze with your sleeve, or disposable tissue. Wash your hands afterward.

• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

• Stay away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.

• Follow guidance from public health officials.


What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Per the CDC, these are the symptoms you should watch out for:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms.

The CDC says to look for emergency warning signs for coronavirus. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion
  • Inability to wake or stay awake
  • Bluish lips or face

Call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you. Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.

Who is most at risk for coronavirus?

Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms of COVID-19, according to the CDC.

Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from the virus.

— This Associated Press contributed to this report.

Read original article here

Stockton church gives out checks on Easter to help families pay rent

IT WAS A DIFFERENT EASTER BLESSING FOR 30 FAMILIES IN THE STOCKTON AREA. ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH GAVE FAMILIES CHECKS OF $500 TO HELP THEM PAY FOR RENT. MANY OF THEM ARE MIGRANTS AND SOME OF THEM ARE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. PASTOR NELSON RABELL SAYS EASTER WAS A PERFECT TIME, TO GIVE OUT THE ASSISTANCE. >> TODAY IS AN IMPORTANT DAY FOR CHRISTIANS, THAT CHRIST WALK — TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY THAT THE CHURCH CARES AND THAT ANY ASSISTANCE WE CAN GIVE THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY MIGRANT COMMUNITY, THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY WE HAVE IN OUR REGION, IS IMPORTANT TO SHOW THEM THAT CHRIST WALKS WITH THEM AS WELL. WALTER: THE CHURCH WAS AWARDED A $300,000 GRANT FROM THE NON-PROFIT, FAITH OF THE VALLEY. WITH THAT MONEY, CHURCH LEAD

Stockton church gives out checks on Easter to help families pay rent

Thirty families in the Stockton area received a different type of Easter blessing this Sunday.Zion Luthern Church gave families checks of $500 to help them pay for rent. Many of the families are migrant families, and some are members of the church.Pastor Nelson Rabell said Easter was a perfect time to give out the assistance.“Today is an important day for Christians around the world. And I think it was a perfect day to show the community that the church cares and that any assistance we can give the community, especially the migrant community, the most vulnerable community we have in our region, is super important to show them that Christ walks with them as well,” Rabell said.The church was awarded a $300,000 grant from the nonprofit Faith of the Valley. With that money, church leaders hope to help 600 families in the Central Valley.

Thirty families in the Stockton area received a different type of Easter blessing this Sunday.

Zion Luthern Church gave families checks of $500 to help them pay for rent. Many of the families are migrant families, and some are members of the church.

Pastor Nelson Rabell said Easter was a perfect time to give out the assistance.

“Today is an important day for Christians around the world. And I think it was a perfect day to show the community that the church cares and that any assistance we can give the community, especially the migrant community, the most vulnerable community we have in our region, is super important to show them that Christ walks with them as well,” Rabell said.

The church was awarded a $300,000 grant from the nonprofit Faith of the Valley. With that money, church leaders hope to help 600 families in the Central Valley.

Read original article here