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Desert Hot Springs, CA PERMIT NO 00005
July 22, 2020 Vol. 16 No. 56
Schools Playing Hooky?
Despite skyrocketing COVID-19 infection rates, some school districts are asking teachers and students to return to in-person instruction in the fall. (jdurham/Morguefile)
Teachers Press Newsom to Delay Physical School Reopening By Desert Star Staff SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The California Federation of Teachers is urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to delay physical reopening of schools and direct districts to go to distance learning until COVID-19 infections drop and safeguards are in place. On Monday, both Los Angeles and San Diego Unified
School Districts announced they will offer distance learning until conditions improve. But other districts such as Marin County are planning to go back to inperson learning 5 days a week. Novato Federation of Teachers president Mariah Fisher said that’s a big mistake. “The district has made it clear that every teacher needs to be ready to be in
the classroom, health risks or not,” Fisher said. “So we need to fight for classrooms that are safe enough for our most vulnerable teachers and students. And we’re not there.” CFT sent a letter to the governor asking that campuses remain closed until the state and county see a reduction in new COVID-19 cases for 14 consecutive days.
They also want the state to provide personal protective equipment, testing, contact tracing and isolation systems. California Federation of Teachers president Jeff Freitas said the districts need rules, not just guidance, on proper social distancing, disinfection and ventilation. “The state needs to step in and give direction, provide these resources, provide this testing, and set standards; not say this
is what you should do, but do what you want,” Freitas said. The letter also calls for a significant increase in funding so that hybrid models of learning can be implemented once it is safe to do so. Disclosure: California Federation of Teachers contributes to our fund for reporting on Civic Engagement, Early Childhood Education, Education, Social Justice.
Suspect who shot family of judge on DB-Jeffrey Epstein case found dead
By Desert Star Staff An attorney suspected of shooting the family of Judge Esther Salas has been found dead of gunshot wounds in a vehicle in Rockland, New York, according to authorities who believe the wounds were self-inflicted. The man was found dead in a car on Route 17 in Sullivan County, wearing a FedEx uniform, law enforcement sources told local media. He was reportedly an attorney whose case was heard by Salas in 2015. Authorities are investigating whether a gun found at the
scene of the death - which they’ve presumed to be a suicide - matches the one that killed Salas’ son and wounded her husband on Sunday during the attack at their North Brunswick, New Jersey home. The gunman who attacked Salas’ family was also wearing a FedEx uniform when he knocked on their door Sunday evening around 5pm and reportedly used an “ordinary car” when he fled the scene. Mark Anderl, Salas’ husband, was first to be shot upon answering the door, followed by
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