Friday, 30 July 2021
Texas deputy AG apologizes to Simone Biles after calling her 'childish' and 'selfish'
(NEXSTAR) – Texas Deputy Attorney General Aaron Reitz has apologized after calling gymnastics superstar Simone Biles, among other things, "a national embarrassment" in a tweet he later deleted.
Biles made the decision to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics and take care of her mental health after feeling "lost" in the air during a vault event and failing to complete all of her rotations.
Many on social media supported Biles for her decision, including past Olympic gymnasts such as Kerri Strug, who famously competed with a badly injured ankle.
Reitz posted a photo of Strug, writing, "Contrast this with our selfish, childish national embarrassment, Simone Biles."
Reitz went on to delete the post, which appeared to also draw public criticism from the Texas attorney general's office. The official account of Reitz's employer referenced a "very inappropriate and insensitive tweet by one of our employees" in a post applauding Biles.
On Wednesday, Reitz tweeted, "I owe Simone Biles an apology. A big one," and attached the following statement:
My personal social media comments do not represent Attorney General Paxton of the Office of the Attorney General.
In a moment of frustration and disappointment, I opined on subjects for which I am not adequately versed. That was an error. I can't imagine what Simone Biles has gone through.
Simone Biles is a true patriot and one of the greatest gymnasts of our time. I apologize to her, and wish her well.
Texas Deputy Attorney General Aaron Reitz
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Multiple dog food brands recalled over substance that could harm your pet
(WTAJ) -- Multiple dog food brands have been recalled due to possible high levels of a by-product that can be harmful to pets if consumed in large quantities.
According to a release, Sunshine Mills, Inc. issued a voluntary recall of some dog food under the brands Triumph, Evolve, Wild Harvest, Nurture Farms, Pure Being and Elm.
The food may contain potentially high levels of aflatoxin, a naturally occurring by-product from the mold Aspergillus flavus that can grow on pet food ingredients such as corn, peanuts and other grains, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The affected products were distributed in retail stores nationally. Retailers who received the recalled lots have been contacted and asked to pull them from their inventory and shelves. They include the following:
| Product Name | Size | Lot Codes | UPC Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRIUMPH® WILD SPIRIT CRAFT DOG FOOD DEBONED CHICKEN & BROWN RICE RECIPE |
3.5 lbs. | Best if used By 11 Feb 2022 Lot: TD2 11/Feb/2021 |
073657 008736 |
| TRIUMPH® WILD SPIRIT CRAFT DOG FOOD DEBONED CHICKEN & BROWN RICE RECIPE |
30 lbs. | Best if used By 11 Feb 2022 Lot: TA2 11/Feb/2021 |
073657 008750 |
| EVOLVE® CLASSIC SUPER PREMIUM FOOD FOR DOGS DEBONED CHICKEN & BROWN RICE RECIPE |
15 lbs. | Best if used By 11 Feb 2022 Lot: TA1 11/Feb/2021 Best if used By 11 Feb 2022 Lot: TA2 11/Feb/2021 |
073657 380320 |
| WILD HARVEST® PREMIUM DOG FOOD CHICKEN & BROWN RICE RECIPE |
14 lbs. | Best if used By 11 Feb 2022 Lot: TA2 11/Feb/2021 |
711535 509523 |
| NURTURE FARMS® NATURAL DOG FOOD DEBONED CHICKEN & BROWN RICE RECIPE |
15 lbs. | Best if used By 11 Feb 2022 Lot: TA2 11/Feb/2021 |
070155 113597 |
| EVOLVE® CLASSIC SUPER PREMIUM FOOD FOR DOGS DEBONED CHICKEN & BROWN RICE RECIPE |
30 lbs. | Best if used By 11 Feb 2022 Lot: TA2 11/Feb/2021 |
073657 380313 |
| HEART TO TAIL PURE BEING® NATURAL DOG FOOD DEBONED CHICKEN & BROWN RICE RECIPE |
5 lbs. | Best if used By 11 Feb 2022 Lot: TD2 11/Feb/2021 |
4099100129441 |
| ELM PET FOODS NATURALS CHICKEN & RICE RECIPE DOG FOOD |
40 lbs. | Best if used By 11 Feb 2022 Lot: TA1 11/Feb/2021 |
070155 225221 |
No illnesses have been reported to date, but Sunshine Mills, Inc. chose to issue the recall as a precaution. If any pets show symptoms of illness after consuming the recalled products, they should be seen immediately by a veterinarian.
Symptoms include sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, and diarrhea.
Anyone who purchased the recalled products should stop using them and may return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Consumers may contact Sunshine Mills, Inc. customer service at (800) 705-2111 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday, or by email at customer.service@sunshinemills.com for additional information.
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Two-thirds of California residents concerned about wildfires, water supply: PPIC poll
Nearly two-thirds of state residents are concerned about the water supply in their region and the increase of wildfires and drought due to climate change, according to polling data released Thursday by the Public Policy Institute of California.
PPIC's 21st annual environmental survey polled 1,569 state residents, including 937 likely voters, earlier this month on environmental issues and concerns.
The survey found that one-quarter of participants said water supply and the state's ongoing drought are their top environmental concerns, followed by 17 percent saying wildfires, 13 percent saying climate change and 6 percent saying air pollution.
Water supply was also a concern for a majority of survey participants in each area of the state - the central valley, Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties and the San Francisco Bay Area.
However, just under 60 percent of those polled in Southern California said their region's water supply was a big problem, while 67 percent of those in the central valley and 70 percent of those in the Bay Area said it was a big problem.
"It's also the most important issue for Democrats and independents while Republicans are equally likely to say the drought or wildfires are the biggest issue," said Rachel Lawler, a survey analyst with the PPIC.
At least 69 percent of participants in each geographic region said they've taken steps to reduce their water use to some extent, with 90 percent of Bay Area participants saying they've done so.
The survey found that 68 percent of all adults said the state is already dealing with the effects of climate change, including 82 percent of Democratic respondents.
Just 44 percent of Republicans, however, said the same and 20 percent of Republican respondents believe the state will never feel the effects of climate change, Lawler said.
"I think Republicans in California are different than, maybe, Republicans in other states or nationwide, but as far as that goes, I think a majority across the notion that it is happening, just to some different degrees," she said.
Republican survey participants were also far less likely than Democrats and independents to support three of the state's policies to combat climate change: banning new fracking permits by 2024, banning the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035 and conserving 30 percent of land and water by 2030.
Only the land and water conservation received majority support from Republican respondents at 51 percent, while 93 percent of Democrats, 71 percent of independents and 76 percent of all adults said they supported it.
Democrats were the only partisan group with majority support for the gas-powered vehicle ban, which Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last fall. The survey found that 69 percent of Democratic respondents supported the policy while 14 percent of Republicans, 42 percent of independents and 49 percent of all adults supported the ban.
A majority of respondents said they supported the ways in which both Newsom and President Joe Biden are handling environmental issues, with 59 percent approving of Newsom and 61 percent approving Biden.
Copyright © 2021 Bay City News, Inc.
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No immediate plans to reopen East San Jose vaccination site
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) -- In East San Jose, the battle to get more people in the community vaccinated continues, and at least one city official is calling upon local leadership to reopen a major vaccination site.
San Jose Planning Commission Chair, Rolando Bonilla, a COVID-19 survivor, is urging Santa Clara County to reopen the Mexican Heritage Plaza as the number of positive COVID-19 cases in East San Jose continue to spike.
“I’m not saying that this is an easy task by any means, but we do have the opportunity to have learned from March 2020 and open up the site now before we have numbers,” said Bonilla.
“What I don’t want in about two, three weeks, the way things are going is that now they’re going to rush to open it up because what that means is that hospitalization rates are up, people are starting to die at a much higher frequency,” Bonilla added.
“That is literally what I am trying to avoid.”
Several East San Jose zip codes are recording some of the highest infections rates in the county.
The mass vaccination site at the Plaza, run by Gardner Health Services in partnership with the county, opened in January and targeted East San Jose’s disproportionately affected groups.
But the site has now been shut down as the daily number of people getting vaccinated fell to just 10 visitors per day.
The county tells KRON4 News via email in part, “the Mexican Heritage Plaza vaccination site was an important part of the County’s efforts to reach the Latinx community for many months.”
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the county says it focused its vaccine outreach efforts toward the county’s deeply impacted Latino community, particularly in East San Jose and Gilroy.
According to county data, the county has vaccinated 75% of people 50 and older within the Latino community, compared to 70% among the county’s white population.
But Bonilla says there are still many people within the community that remain unvaccinated, most expressing fear of the after-effects of the vaccine, making it difficult for some to attend work.
“Now they want us to believe that pop-ups and door-to-door (vaccine outreach efforts) are all we need,” said Bonilla.
“No, we need all of the above.”
In total, the Plaza vaccinated over 25,000 community members.
And although the Plaza is now closed as a vaccination site, there are door-to-door outreach efforts from the Si Se Puede Collective and community health workers to help answer questions regarding the vaccine and to make an appointment at county vaccination sites.
Additionally, there are several other vaccination sites available in the surrounding community, which include the mass vaccination site at the county fairgrounds, on Story and King roads, the county’s East Valley and Tulley clinics.
There are also multiple pop-ups and pharmacy locations throughout East San Jose.
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Oakland Fire Department gets $825K FEMA grant
OAKLAND (BCN) - The Federal Emergency Management Agency will award the Oakland Fire Department with a $825,000 port security grant to support the purchase of a new fireboat.
The grant money will be used to purchase a long-awaited emergency response vessel that will be housed in the Oakland Estuary adjacent to Fire Station 2 in Jack London Square.
Michael Hunt, a department spokesperson, said the new fireboat will be used in conjunction with the department's existing water rescue boat, Marine 1, and will be designed and equipped to meet the modern-day challenges associated with protecting the city's estuary and waterfront.
"We're cognizant of the budgetary limitations that exist in Oakland and how that has impeded this department's ability to repair and replace outdated infrastructure and apparatus in a timely manner," said Chief Reginald Freeman. "I am thrilled that these grant funds will enable us to respond to incidents at the Port of Oakland more effectively, while also making sure we're equipped to continue protecting life and property along Oakland's vibrant waterfront."
The city's previous fireboat was decommissioned in 2003.
FEMA's Port Security Grant Program provides $100 million for transportation infrastructure security activities to implement Area Maritime Transportation Security plans and facility security plans among port authorities, facility operators and local government agencies required to provide port security services.
"External funds like these play a critical role in augmenting our operational capacity, and I applaud and appreciate everyone who had a hand in making this grant application successful," Freeman said. "While the application process may be challenging and competitive, the outcome has made our department stronger and the city more resilient."
Copyright © 2021 Bay City News, Inc.
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Walnut Creek extends outdoor dining program
Walnut Creek officials are considering whether to keep outdoor dining parklets a permanent fixture of the city after extending the city's outdoor dining program through the end of the year.
The Walnut Creek City Council unanimously approved the extension of the Walnut Creek Rebound program last week, enabling restaurants to maintain their outdoor dining spaces in areas like erstwhile street parking spaces.
Rebound also created curbside pickup zones near restaurants and retail businesses and closed a handful of streets downtown as restaurants expanded their footprints to accommodate outdoor dining during the pandemic.
According to Mayor Kevin Wilk, a survey of some 1,400 Walnut Creek residents found that 82 percent wanted to make the outdoor dining spaces permanent.
"It's thoroughly obvious to this council that people like this," Wilk said last week.
The city launched the Rebound program in June 2020 in coordination with local groups like the Downtown Business Association and the city's Chamber of Commerce at a time when the state had temporarily banned indoor dining during the pandemic's early months.
While city officials have acknowledged a modest loss of revenue while the parking spaces are going unused by vehicles, they've argued widely available garage parking and the potential loss of local businesses, as well as their tax revenue, was worth the risk.
Walnut Creek city officials are also currently conducting outreach to determine which elements of Rebound to keep in 2022 and beyond, particularly in the city's bustling downtown.
Business owners are encouraged to contact the city at economicdevelopment@walnut-creek.org to give feedback about the future of outdoor dining and business operations.
"I appreciate the fact that we're able to help restaurants recover from this pandemic and this disastrous economic collapse that happened over last year and help them a little bit further," Wilk said.
Copyright © 2021 Bay City News, Inc.
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