California School Districts Grope for Sensible Reopening Plans

Art Shotwell 7 minutes read
Some districts want to bring everyone back to the classroom and some are planning distance-only learning, while most others are settling on one of a variety of options in the middle. Whatever their leanings, they all face vast, troubling uncertainty.

Trump Is Donating Ventilators to Countries That Don’t Need or Can’t Use Them

Art Shotwell 12 minutes read
Nearly 8,000 ventilators are destined for foreign countries as part of Trump’s plan to make the U.S. “king of ventilators.” But public health experts worry the machines are crowding out more urgently needed aid.

DeVos’ Outdated Statistic on School Efforts

Art Shotwell 6 minutes read
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos used an outdated figure in claiming only 10% of school districts had “provided any kind of real curriculum and instruction program” after the coronavirus pandemic caused schools to shut down this spring. That was the case for 82 districts in late March, but by late April, 56% were doing so. In late May, the figure was 67%.

Different Names, Same Address: How Big Businesses Got Government Loans Meant for Small Businesses

Art Shotwell 8 minutes read
ProPublica found at least 15 large companies that received over half a billion dollars in PPP loans using the same technique: Getting multiple loans sent to smaller entities they own.

You Can See Friends and Relatives During the Pandemic Surge — But Do It Carefully

Art Shotwell 6 minutes read
Even as most U.S. states and authorities reimpose many of the restrictions they had prematurely lifted, public health experts say you can still have a safe social life — just not the one you were used to before the pandemic hit.

Police Blotter, July 4 - 9, 2020

Anacortes Police 5 minutes read
Anacortes Police included only one fireworks-related issue, a reported fight over fireworks, in this week’s Police Blotter.