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Statewide indoor mask mandate issued Order to take effect Wednesday through Jan. 15 By MADISON HIRNEISEN THE CENTER SQUARE STAFF REPORTER
(The Center Square) — California will implement a statewide universal masking mandate starting Wednesday as COVID-19 case rates remain on the rise in various regions across the state, Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly announced Monday. The indoor mask mandate will apply statewide and remain in effect until Jan. 15, Dr. Ghaly told reporters Monday. Since Thanksgiving, the state has seen a 47% increase in the case rate, up from roughly 9.6 cases per 100,000 daily to more than 14 cases per 100,000 per day, Dr. Ghaly said.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration has announced a new statewide indoor mask mandate.
“We are proactively putting this tool of universal indoor masking in public settings in place to ensure we get through a time of joy and hope without a darker cloud of concern and despair,” Dr. Ghaly said. “Californians have done this before, and we, of course, believe we can do it again.” In addition to universal indoor masking, starting Wednesday, the state will require attendees of mega-events of more than 1,000 people to show proof of vaccination or submit a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours if its an antigen test and 48 hours if it is a PCR test, lowering the previous 72-hour interval. The state’s decision comes less than two weeks after the Santa
Barbara County Public Health Department decided to extend its own indoor mask mandate for another 30 days. As of Nov. 26, Santa Barbara County had a case rate of seven cases per 100,000 and a test positivity of 4%, according to the Public Health Department. In early December, the department explained that in order for the county’s mask mandate to be lifted, the county case rate should be seven or fewer cases per 100,000 for three consecutive weeks. Madison Hirneisen covers California for The Center Square. News-Press Managing Editor Dave Mason contributed to this report.
Effort for tornadoes’ victims Goleta-based Direct Relief reaches out to organizations in South, Midwest
Evacuation order issued for Alisal Fire burn scar By FORREST MCFARLAND NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation order Monday for areas in and surrounding the Alisal Fire burn scar. The sheriff’s office upgraded the warning to an order due to Monday night’s storm, which had the potential to produce flash flooding and mud and debris flows. The areas that this order applies to are west of Las Flores Canyon, east of Mariposa Reina, south of West Camino Cielo and down to the ocean. Residents were strongly encouraged to leave the area while there was daylight and better visibility in the area. The county also urged commuters using Highway 101 through the Gaviota Coast and State Route 154 to check road conditions and consider working remotely. The county additionally asked residents to prepare to sustain their households for multiple days as they might not be able to leave the area. An Evacuation Center opened Monday evening at the Santa Barbara City College Wake
Center, 300 N. Turnpike Road, Santa Barbara. For Evacuation Center information, contact the American Red Cross at 805-9010845. For animal evacuation assistance, call the Animal Services Hotline at 805-681-4332. The Alisal Fire burned 16,970 acres near the Alisal Reservoir and now has rock and material accumulating within the chutes and watercourses throughout the topography. The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will consider ratification of a Local Emergency Proclamation at its meeting today. This is an emergency item in the agenda. Santa Barbara County is working with the National Weather Service, the U.S. Forest Service Burn Area Emergency Response Team, the CAL Fire Watershed Emergency Response Team and local agencies to closely monitor the incoming storm and further assess the potential risks for debris flows. For more information, go to to www.readysbc.org. email: fmcfarland@newspress. com
ANNELISE HANSHAW/NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
Graduate student researchers hold a demonstration Aug. 25 in front of UCSB Cheadle Hall. Their union was recognized by the University of California last week.
University of California recognizes Student Researchers United By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
Goleta-based Direct Relief has reached out to organizations to see what aid they need for victims of tornadoes in the South and Midwest.
By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
Direct Relief is reaching out to provide aid to organizations in states hit by tornadoes in the South and Midwest. Over the weekend, the Goleta nonprofit reached out to organizations in the primary states that were ravaged — Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois and Arkansas — as well as two additional states, Missouri and Misssippi, to see what disaster relief is needed. Additionally, an emergency alert was sent out to Direct Relief’s 41 partner nonprofits, Leighton Jones, Direct Relief’s director
of emergency response, told the well as delivering care in shelter News-Press Monday. situations and first aid. There is a Direct Relief works with these lot of potential for injury, so there organizations on a regular basis is a significant need for primary to provide support and medical care and first aid.” supplies during The primary disasters. burden that Disaster these nonprofits Relief is also are facing is For reports about the tornadoes in prepared to that they need Illinois, Tennessee and Kentucky, supply clinics to provide with emergency disaster relief, see A4 cash grants if emergency care needed, Mr. and first aid, on Jones said. top of providing routine patient “Nonprofits are still assessing care, Mr. Jones said. their needs. Specific needs “We have reached out to our will come in the next few days,” partner clinics to see if any have he explained. “They need to been damaged directly. So far we continue to offer patient care, as have no reports of damage, but
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we have one partner in downtown Mayfield, Ky., whom we have unable to get ahold of for obvious reasons,” said Mr. Jones. Mayfield was one of the most devastated cities in Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshar told CNN. The Mayfield Consumer Products Candle factory was hit Friday night, with 110 people inside the factory. Dozens are feared dead. “I’m pretty sure that number (killed in Kentucky) is north of 70 ... It may, in fact, exceed 100 before the day is done … The level of devastation is unlike anything I have ever seen,” said Gov. Beshear, late Saturday morning. email: kzhender@newspress.com
The University of California and Student Researchers United, a union of over 17,000 graduate student researchers across UC campuses, reached a recognition agreement Thursday after months of demonstrations. SRU, a United Auto Workers Union, had authorized a strike, late November. The recognition bridged the University and students’ definition of employees — a point of contention as Student Researchers United petitioned. “The UAW is proud to welcome UC Student Researchers into our union family,” Cindy Estrada, UAW vice president and head of the UAW Stellantis, Women’s, and Higher Education Organizing Departments, said in a news release. “They have shown what is possible when workers stand together and refuse to be divided.
We look forward to supporting them as they bargain a strong first contract.” UC originally sought to exclude fellows and trainees, roughly onethird of the unit, when it received the petition in September. The Public Employees Relations Board ruled UC’s response an effective denial. “From the outset, UC fully supported our GSRs’ right to be represented by a union, and we and the UAW were in agreement that the vast majority of GSRs belong in the new bargaining unit,” Ryan King, associate director of media relations, said in a statement. “However, there was a group of graduate students that required closer examination and discussion. The core issue was defining who is a student employee.” UC recognizes fellows and trainees in the new agreement Please see UNION on A4
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L O T T E RY RESULTS
Classified................. B4 Life...................... B1-2 Obituaries............... A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 6-7-10-20-25 Meganumber: 26
Monday’s DAILY 4: 8-2-0-6
Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 22-25-40-42-60 Meganumber: 8
Monday’s FANTASY 5: 19-21-29-34-36
Wednesday’s DAILY DERBY: 10-11-02 Time: 1:43.45
Saturday’s POWERBALL: 3-25-44-53-64 Meganumber: 10
Sudoku................... B3 Sports . .................... A3 Weather................. A4
Monday’s DAILY 3: 5-2-6 / Monday’s Midday 0-9-8