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California Today: Vaccinate Schoolchildren or Keep Them Home California Today: Vaccinate Schoolchildren or Keep Them Home
(about 2 hours later)
Good morning.Good morning.
Welcome to California Today, a morning update on the stories that matter to Californians (and anyone else interested in the state).Welcome to California Today, a morning update on the stories that matter to Californians (and anyone else interested in the state).
Tell us about the issues that matter to you — and what you’d like to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.Tell us about the issues that matter to you — and what you’d like to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.
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With the new school year underway, California is cracking down on parents who refuse to vaccinate their children.With the new school year underway, California is cracking down on parents who refuse to vaccinate their children.
Since a new law took effect in July, no longer will a child be able to attend class unimmunized on the basis of a parent’s objections.Since a new law took effect in July, no longer will a child be able to attend class unimmunized on the basis of a parent’s objections.
In the past, parents could sidestep vaccine mandates by declaring that the injections were contrary to their religious or personal beliefs. This occurred despite overwhelming evidence from doctors and public health officials that they are safe and effective in preventing infectious diseases.In the past, parents could sidestep vaccine mandates by declaring that the injections were contrary to their religious or personal beliefs. This occurred despite overwhelming evidence from doctors and public health officials that they are safe and effective in preventing infectious diseases.
Tens of thousands of vaccine-refusing parents across California now face three options: yield, tutor your children at home or pack up and leave the state.Tens of thousands of vaccine-refusing parents across California now face three options: yield, tutor your children at home or pack up and leave the state.
But if there is to be any exodus from California schools, expect it to unfold slowly.But if there is to be any exodus from California schools, expect it to unfold slowly.
The law, known as SB 277, only requires proof of immunizations as children enter school for the first time or the seventh grade. That means many won’t have to vaccinate for years or, if they’re in eighth grade and above, at all.The law, known as SB 277, only requires proof of immunizations as children enter school for the first time or the seventh grade. That means many won’t have to vaccinate for years or, if they’re in eighth grade and above, at all.
In 2015, parents of incoming kindergartners in California filed more than 13,000 personal belief exemptions. It’s unclear how the latest crop of vaccine-wary kindergarten parents are responding to the law.In 2015, parents of incoming kindergartners in California filed more than 13,000 personal belief exemptions. It’s unclear how the latest crop of vaccine-wary kindergarten parents are responding to the law.
Schools took steps to ensure that parents understood the rules and even helped coordinate vaccine clinics, said Robert Oakes, a spokesman for the California Department of Education.Schools took steps to ensure that parents understood the rules and even helped coordinate vaccine clinics, said Robert Oakes, a spokesman for the California Department of Education.
“It’s the right thing to do for public health, and it’s the law in California,” he said.“It’s the right thing to do for public health, and it’s the law in California,” he said.
Still, opponents say a trickle of defectors have been streaming out of California since the middle of last year, when the bill was signed into law in the wake of a measles outbreak, which began at Disneyland and was attributed, in part, to diseases being spread by children who had not been vaccinated. Still, opponents say a trickle of defectors has been leaving California since the middle of last year, when the bill was signed into law in the wake of a measles outbreak, which began at Disneyland and was attributed, in part, to diseases being spread by children who had not been vaccinated.
Stefanie Duncan Fetzer, an opponent in San Clemente, said she personally knew of roughly 200 families who have fled. Many went to Oregon, Colorado or Texas, she said, states seen as unlikely to impose strict vaccine rules.Stefanie Duncan Fetzer, an opponent in San Clemente, said she personally knew of roughly 200 families who have fled. Many went to Oregon, Colorado or Texas, she said, states seen as unlikely to impose strict vaccine rules.
Other parents are in a sort of limbo, unable to make other arrangements for their children. Ms. Fetzer described one family that sold their house, bought a camper and “just took off.”Other parents are in a sort of limbo, unable to make other arrangements for their children. Ms. Fetzer described one family that sold their house, bought a camper and “just took off.”
“They don’t know where they are going to land,” she said. “They are just going to drive around the country and home-school their kids and hope to find a place to go.”“They don’t know where they are going to land,” she said. “They are just going to drive around the country and home-school their kids and hope to find a place to go.”
• Brock Turner, the former Stanford University student who spent three months in jail after sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, registered as a sex offender in his home state of Ohio. The designation will stick for life. [USA Today]• Brock Turner, the former Stanford University student who spent three months in jail after sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, registered as a sex offender in his home state of Ohio. The designation will stick for life. [USA Today]
• The disappearance 20 years ago of Kristin Smart, a freshman at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, is one of the Central Coast’s highest-profile cold cases. Now, officials are saying they have developed a lead, and are planning to excavate a site near the campus. [The Associated Press]• The disappearance 20 years ago of Kristin Smart, a freshman at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, is one of the Central Coast’s highest-profile cold cases. Now, officials are saying they have developed a lead, and are planning to excavate a site near the campus. [The Associated Press]
• One of the nation’s largest for-profit college chains, ITT Technical Institute, closed nearly all of its campuses Tuesday, leaving thousands of students adrift. The company ran 15 locations in California. [The New York Times]• One of the nation’s largest for-profit college chains, ITT Technical Institute, closed nearly all of its campuses Tuesday, leaving thousands of students adrift. The company ran 15 locations in California. [The New York Times]
• On Wednesday, the California Coastal Commission is expected to vote on a giant development proposed for the last big coastal lot in Orange County. The project has stirred fierce opposition. [Los Angeles Times]• On Wednesday, the California Coastal Commission is expected to vote on a giant development proposed for the last big coastal lot in Orange County. The project has stirred fierce opposition. [Los Angeles Times]
• A federal judge blocked a plan by the Bureau of Land Management to open more than a million acres in Central California to oil drilling. [San Francisco Chronicle]• A federal judge blocked a plan by the Bureau of Land Management to open more than a million acres in Central California to oil drilling. [San Francisco Chronicle]
• In Sacramento, Asian-Americans gathered 2,000 signatures on a letter to the mayor demanding something be done about a rash of robberies targeting their community. [Sacramento Bee]• In Sacramento, Asian-Americans gathered 2,000 signatures on a letter to the mayor demanding something be done about a rash of robberies targeting their community. [Sacramento Bee]
• Six ways that legal marijuana would change California, and seven ways that it wouldn’t. [KQED News]• Six ways that legal marijuana would change California, and seven ways that it wouldn’t. [KQED News]
• Seventeen voter initiatives? That’s nothing. On top of those statewide proposals, San Diegans will face 12 city and two county measures in November — 31 in all. Here’s help. [Voice of San Diego]• Seventeen voter initiatives? That’s nothing. On top of those statewide proposals, San Diegans will face 12 city and two county measures in November — 31 in all. Here’s help. [Voice of San Diego]
• No one else grows strawberries like Driscoll’s, the berry juggernaut in Watsonville. Now the company is hoping to make berry lovers care about that distinction. [The New York Times]• No one else grows strawberries like Driscoll’s, the berry juggernaut in Watsonville. Now the company is hoping to make berry lovers care about that distinction. [The New York Times]
• A study of the Berkeley soda tax found that low-income residents cut sugary drink consumption by a fifth. [The New York Times]• A study of the Berkeley soda tax found that low-income residents cut sugary drink consumption by a fifth. [The New York Times]
• Finally, watch this painfully accurate depiction of what it’s like to talk to someone just back from Burning Man. “It was everything. It was literally everything.” (Warning: Salty language) [YouTube]• Finally, watch this painfully accurate depiction of what it’s like to talk to someone just back from Burning Man. “It was everything. It was literally everything.” (Warning: Salty language) [YouTube]
A bunch of readers sent emails Tuesday urging California Today to reflect the entire mosaic of the state.A bunch of readers sent emails Tuesday urging California Today to reflect the entire mosaic of the state.
A few highlights:A few highlights:
I want to remind you to venture away from the coast to look at the Central Valley and small-town California, too. That’s where some of the most pressing social, economic and environmental issues are playing out.I want to remind you to venture away from the coast to look at the Central Valley and small-town California, too. That’s where some of the most pressing social, economic and environmental issues are playing out.
— Diane Cary, 64, Winters— Diane Cary, 64, Winters
My view of California is one of many “Californias,” each of them having their own beauty, their own struggles, their own politics.My view of California is one of many “Californias,” each of them having their own beauty, their own struggles, their own politics.
— Mauro Sifuentes, 31, San Francisco— Mauro Sifuentes, 31, San Francisco
Please do not treat San Diego as a suburb of L.A. We are so much more than a border town. I would love to see California being more than San Francisco and L.A.Please do not treat San Diego as a suburb of L.A. We are so much more than a border town. I would love to see California being more than San Francisco and L.A.
— Susan Elliott, 66, Encinitas— Susan Elliott, 66, Encinitas
Our tech reporters will be calling the play-by-play during Apple’s annual showcase this morning in San Francisco, where the company is expected to unveil its next iPhone.Our tech reporters will be calling the play-by-play during Apple’s annual showcase this morning in San Francisco, where the company is expected to unveil its next iPhone.
Rumormongers say it will be thinner, faster and — gasp! — lacking a headphone jack.Rumormongers say it will be thinner, faster and — gasp! — lacking a headphone jack.
The event starts at 10 a.m. Pacific. Find live coverage and analysis on The Times’s home page and mobile feed then.The event starts at 10 a.m. Pacific. Find live coverage and analysis on The Times’s home page and mobile feed then.
It was like a moment from a Disney movie.It was like a moment from a Disney movie.
Mike Karas, a tourist from Honolulu, had his camera pointed toward an exquisite view of Yosemite when a bride and her groom stepped onto a rocky ledge high above a valley.Mike Karas, a tourist from Honolulu, had his camera pointed toward an exquisite view of Yosemite when a bride and her groom stepped onto a rocky ledge high above a valley.
She turned to him as the sun burst into an apricot hue on the horizon.She turned to him as the sun burst into an apricot hue on the horizon.
“It was like wow, that’s amazing,” Mr. Karas, 31, said.“It was like wow, that’s amazing,” Mr. Karas, 31, said.
He snapped a photo. But the mystery couple vanished down a trail before he could flag them down.He snapped a photo. But the mystery couple vanished down a trail before he could flag them down.
Later, he posted the image to Instagram, where it spread like crazy and inspired reports as far away as New Zealand.Later, he posted the image to Instagram, where it spread like crazy and inspired reports as far away as New Zealand.
It also fueled an effort to identify the couple that stretched for days.It also fueled an effort to identify the couple that stretched for days.
Then, late Tuesday, the mystery was solved.Then, late Tuesday, the mystery was solved.
The bride was Catherine Mack, an Australian actress, and her groom Rick Donald, also an actor.The bride was Catherine Mack, an Australian actress, and her groom Rick Donald, also an actor.
Mr. Karas said he spoke to Ms. Mack by phone after she spotted the photo on social media and connected with him.Mr. Karas said he spoke to Ms. Mack by phone after she spotted the photo on social media and connected with him.
“She was laughing and happy about the photo and the whole story and loved it,” he said. “She didn’t know how big exactly the story had become.”“She was laughing and happy about the photo and the whole story and loved it,” he said. “She didn’t know how big exactly the story had become.”
Ms. Mack said in an email that the couple were married in the national park right before the photo was taken.Ms. Mack said in an email that the couple were married in the national park right before the photo was taken.
California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.
The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis. Follow him on Twitter.The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis. Follow him on Twitter.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended U.C. Berkeley.California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended U.C. Berkeley.