San Marcos’ Wilson heading to Stanford
UCSB reaches for the stars
Physics Department participates in interstellar discoveries - B1
Our 165th Year
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4.8 million jobs added to economy T By JOSH GREGA
NEWS-PRESS staff writer
here was some good news amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday, when the White House announced that 4.8 million non-farm jobs were added to the United States economy during the month of June, bringing the U.S. unemployment rate down 2.2 percentage points from 13.3%to 11.1%. This information is detailed in a jobs report that the Bureau of Labor Statistics released on Thursday. This rise in employment is “the largest monthly gain on record,” according to a press release. When combined with the 2.7 million jobs
that were added to the economy in May, June’s 4.8 million job increase recovers approximately one-third of jobs lost to COVID-19 in March and April. Even with this increase over the past two months, the jobless rate and the number of unemployed people is up 7.6 percentage points and 12 million people, respectively, since February. The industry that experienced the largest employment increase in June was the leisure and hospitality sector, with 2.1 million jobs added, about two-fifths of the total gains in nonfarm employment. Other industries that experienced significant employment growth last month include retail trade, which added 740,000, education and health services,
568,000, other services, 357,000, and manufacturing, 356,000. The number of unemployed reentrants to the labor force, specified in the report as persons who previously worked but were not in the labor force prior searching for a new job, rose by 711,000, or 43%. Employed people who flowed into the category of not in the labor force numbered 3.6 million from May to June, less than the 4.7 million average of the 12 months prior to March. However, the number of permanent job losers continued to grow during June, going from 588,000 to 2.9 million. Unemployment rates for demographic groups like Hispanics, blacks, and women decreased by 3.1 percentage points, 1.4
percentage points, and 2.8 percentage points, respectively. The number of employed black Americans had its second largest gain on record of 404,000, and black American women over 20 had their largest gain on record of 267,000. How exactly this nationwide decrease in unemployment during the month of June is manifested in the local labor force hasn’t yet been quantified, as the State of California Employment Development Department won’t be releasing its figures on changes in Santa Barbara County’s unemployment until July 17. The last release from the EDD indicated that 1,600 jobs across all industries were added to the workforce between April and May, and that the latter month had 1% less
Bee Safe, wear a mask First-grader helps protect people from COVID-19 and save the bees
By GRAYCE MCCORMICK NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
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even-year-old Graysie Thomas loves unicorns, chocolate and bees. She also loves keeping others safe. After learning about the plight of honeybees in school and, of course, watching Seinfeld’s “Bee Movie,” Graysie thought about what she could do to save the bees. Then, when the COVID-19 pandemic began and people were required to wear masks, the first-grader at Mountain View Elementary School in Goleta decided she wanted to fight both the pandemic and the extinction of bees. “She connected these two existential threats to humanity,” said William Thomas, Graysie’s father. “So I said, ‘Here’s what you can do about that.’ ” Together, Graysie and her father created “Bee Safe” masks, surgical-style masks with a logo saying “Bee Safe” and a small, wooden 3D bee next to it. The masks are $10 apiece or $80 for a 10-pack with free shipping. In addition, customers can purchase just the “Bee Safe” labels for $5 to superglue to their own masks. A dollar from each sale will be donated to one of several “save-thebees” nonprofit organizations, such as The Honeybee Conservatory. “It’s like advertising for the bees, but it’s also helping people keep safe themselves,” Graysie’s father said. He added that he talks to his children, Graysie and his 14-yearold son, about current events often. He said the mask idea was fairly on brand for his daughter. “I mean she always surprises me,” Mr. Thomas said. “She’s very observant. She’ll ask questions that amaze me sometimes. This was the type of connection that she tends to make with the way she thinks.” Graysie said that while masks hurt her ears, she wants to protect people “like when you sneeze.” When asked why she wants to save the bees, she said, “Well, I love peaches and I love apples and I love lots of fruits. I do like a lot of bugs, and (bees) are really cute up close.” To support Graysie’s cause, help save the bees and adhere to COVID-19 guidelines, order “Bee Safe” masks at www.beesafe2020. com. email: gmccormick@newspress.com
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email: jgrega@newspress.com
County beaches closed for weekend Public Health Department announces 111 new cases of COVID-19 By JORGE MERCADO NEWS-PRESS staff writer
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recent spike in COVID19 cases has forced Dr. Henning Ansorg, Santa Barbara’s County Health Officer, to issue an order requiring all beaches to be closed to the public during the upcoming Fourth of July weekend. The order goes into effect this morning and will remain in place until 11:59 p.m. Sunday. “This decision was very difficult, and is a change from previous policy, because of the unique combination of the spike in positive cases (Wednesday), combined with the potential for large crowds of local beaches over the Fourth of July weekend,” Gregg Hart, the county’s district supervisor, said during a press conference held Thursday. Sheriff Bill Brown confirmed that the Sheriff’s Office will have personnel patrolling the beaches. People will be asked to leave
COURTESY PHOTO
Governor Gavin Newsome
the beach if seen and if they do not cooperate, could be subjected to a fine. “We really want to emphasize and appeal to our community members and our visitors to do the right thing and leave if they are engaged in a prohibited activity,” said Dr. Van DoReynoso, the county’s public Please see COVID-19 on A2
Carpinteria to enforce beach parking rules By MITCHELL WHITE NEWS-PRESS ASSOCIATE EDITOr
RAFAEL MALDONADO/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Graysie Thomas, a first-grader at Mountain View Elementary School in Goleta, came up with the idea to put “Bee Safe” logos on masks to help fight the spread of COVID-19 and the plight of bees.
At left, the “Bee Safe” masks sell for $10 apiece or $80 for a 10-pack, along with the “Bee Safe” decals, which sell for $5 apiece to superglue to any mask. One dollar from each sale will be donated to a “savethe-bees” nonprofit. At right, the 7-year-old learned about endangered bees in school, and once everyone had to start wearing masks, she wanted to keep people safe and save the bees at the same time.
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unemployment than the prior month. Though the sum of 1,600 jobs added consists of farm and nonfarm jobs, only the former in total increased. According to the EDD’s figures, farm jobs in Santa Barbara County increased by 2,200 while 600 nonfarm jobs were lost, offsetting the former for a total increase of 1,600 jobs. According to EDD labor market consultant Andriy Moskalyk, May’s rise in farm jobs was merely due to “a normal seasonal fluctuation in agriculture.” Certain local nonfarm sectors did add jobs however, including construction with 1,300 jobs added, education and health services with 400 jobs added, and leisure and hospitality with 700 jobs added
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L O T T E RY RESU LTS
Comics................. B4 Classified.............. B5 Life....................... B 1
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 19-22-25-33-42
Obituaries............. A6 Soduku................. B3 Weather................ A6
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he Carpinteria City Council voted Thursday to reinstate emergency parking restrictions for the Fourth of July holiday weekend to discourage large gatherings and slow the transmission of the coronavirus. The council voted unanimously to enact the restrictions, which include parking closures around beach neighborhoods and around the ends of Linden, Holly, Elm and Ash avenues. The city is closing back-angled parking south of the railroad on Linden Avenue and portions of the Amtrak parking lot. The restrictions formerly included a two-hour parking restrictions and permits for residents, but those are not needed because of the county’s beach closure health
Meganumber: 12
order. Message boards have been set up to reflect the beach closures, physical signs have been added to the beach regarding the closures and the city is providing messaging via social media, City Manager Dave Durflinger said during Thursday’s meeting. “No parking areas” will also be placed on some portions of downtown streets. “We as a city council look at the priority of our jobs, specifically for the health and safety of this community, and it’s sometimes hard and difficult to make those decisions, but if we look at your health and your safety first it makes it a lot easier for us to make those decisions,” said Mayor Wade Nomura. The county’s beach closure order encompasses all state beach areas, including Carpinteria State Beach. The Please see parking on A6
Thursday’s DAILY 3: 0-9-8 / Evening 2-8-4 Thursday’s DAILY 4: 3-0-9-6
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 9-16-29-37-53 Meganumber: 11
Thursday’s FANTASY 5: 15-22-25-27-34
Thursday’s DAILY DERBY: 09-12-05 Time: 1:45.90
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 15-28-52-53-63 Meganumber: 18