Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/512454
ByDonThompson TheAssociatedPress SACRAMENTO State sen- ators passed a bill Thurs- day aimed at increasing California's school immu- nization rates after a mea- sles outbreak at Disneyland last year. The bill was approved on a 25-10 vote after a series of emotional hearings this year at which opponents called for preserving pa- rental rights on the matter. The measure would pro- hibit parents from seek- ing vaccine exemptions for their children because of re- ligious or personal beliefs. The bill, which now goes to the Assembly, would make medical waiv- ers available only for chil- dren who have health prob- lems. Other unvaccinated children would have to be homeschooled. "This is a matter of pub- lic safety. This is a matter of protecting our communi- ties," said Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento. Red-shirted opponents, some with restless children, crowded the public gallery to watch the nearly hour- long Senate debate. If the bill becomes law, California would join Mis- sissippi and West Virginia as the only states with such strict requirements. Gov. Jerry Brown has not said if he would sign the bill. Pan, a pediatrician, joined Sen. Ben Allen, D- Santa Monica, in proposing SB277 after the measles out- break at Disneyland in De- cember sickened more than 100 people in the U.S. and Mexico and highlighted low immunization rates in some areas of the state. Allen said the goal is to improve immunization rates so communicable diseases don't spread, noting that his father suffered from polio that he contracted as a child. "People of his genera- tion still can't believe that we have allowed commu- nicable diseases that we have the tools to fight back into American society," Al- len said. "This is about how each of our personal choices impacts others." The legislation is backed by organizations represent- ing doctors, hospitals, teach- ers, public health officials, lo- cal governments and unions and by what Allen called a si- lent majority of parents. Opponents unsuccess- fully sought to add amend- ments allowing religious exemptions and making other changes. "It tells deeply devout families that the govern- ment thinks it knows bet- ter," said Sen. Mike Morrell, R-Rancho Cucamonga. The vote and debate crossed party lines, with Sen. Jeff Stone, R-Temecula, en- dorsing the bill from his ex- perienceasapracticingphar- macist and denouncing what he said were myths that have led to false concerns. IMMUNIZATIONS CaliforniaSenateapprovesschoolvaccinebill RICHPEDRONCELLI—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS State Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, le , and Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, leave the Senate a er the bill they co-authored requiring schoolchildren to get vaccinated was approved, at the Capitol in Sacramento on Thursday. By Michael R. Blood The Associated Press SANTA ANA California Rep. Loretta Sanchez an- nounced Thursday she is running for U.S. Senate, setting up a multimillion- dollar clash of two prom- inent Democrats that will highlight the state's diver- sity and divisions. Her announcement in her home district in Or- ange County will dramat- ically reshape a 2016 race that was developing into a runaway for state Attorney General Kamala Harris, another Democrat who has had the Senate field virtu- ally to herself for months. The contest will have geographic, racial and po- litical dimensions that could highlight rifts within the Democratic Party. Sanchez, 55, is Hispanic with a background in na- tional defense issues and roots in Southern Califor- nia. Over the years, she be- longed to a faction of mod- erate Democrats known as the Blue Dog Coalition. Harris, 50, is a favorite of the party's left wing. She is a career prosecutor from the San Francisco Bay Area whose father is black and mother is Indian. Sanchez seized on the contrasts, repeatedly re- ferring to her experience in foreign and military af- fairs on Capitol Hill. That resume includes trips to Iraq and other world con- flict zones, meetings with senior military leaders and soldiers, and her service on the House Armed Services and Homeland Security committees. "I know what needs to be done to ensure our nation is secure and our troops are equipped and ready," San- chez said. That experience, she added, is essential "in these perilous times," implying the state had no time for a senator who needed on- the-job training. Democrats are strongly favored to hold the seat, which is being vacated by retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer. The party controls every statewide office and both chambers of the Leg- islature. Sanchez enters the race an underdog — unlike Har- ris,shehasneverbeentested by a statewide campaign. She also starts out well behind the attorney general in financial firepower. San- chez had about $540,000 in the bank at the end of March for her House race; Harris, who announced in mid-January, already had $2.2 million on hand. Allan Hoffenblum, pub- lisher of the California Tar- get Book, an almanac of state elections, described Sanchez as a "scrapper and a proven candidate" who would pose a chal- lenge for Harris. Sanchez will get extensive coverage on Spanish-language me- dia and could attract mod- erates and independents by running to Harris' political right, he said. Under California's un- usual election rules, vot- ers can choose candidates from any political party in a primary election. "You go to Southern Cali- fornia, and they don't know who Kamala Harris is. Why would they?" Hoffenblum said. Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, who this week de- clined to enter the Senate race, said there is a "big op- portunity for a candidate from Southern California, and I think there's a great hunger in the Latino com- munity for a candidate as well." Hispanics now account for about two of every 10 voters in the state, a mark that has risen steadily for years. Sanchez is serving her 10th term in the House. She came to Congress in 1996 by upsetting Republican in- cumbent Bob Dornan. Two little-known Re- publicans have entered the contest: state Assem- blyman Rocky Chavez and former state GOP chair- man Tom Del Beccaro. POLITICS Rep. Loretta Sanchez enters US Senate race SAM GANGWER — THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER VIA AP California Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Santa Ana, announces her candidacy for U.S. Senate during a news conference on Thursday at the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center in Santa Ana. The Associated Press SANTA MARIA Scattered thunderstorms hit the coasts of central and South- ern California on Thursday ahead of a stronger dous- ing of rain and snow ex- pected to sweep much of the drought-stricken state before the weekend. The storm's first rains have been felt from Santa Maria to Santa Monica, but most of the Los Ange- les and San Francisco Bay areas have remained dry so far. And don't expect the dousing to ease the state's worsening water shortage, National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Kit- tell said. "It won't have any huge impact on the drought, but any little bit will help, especially if we get some snow in the mountains," he said. About a quarter-inch of rain is expected in North- ern California before the storm winds down, Na- tional Weather Service forecaster Diana Hender- son said. "Even using the word, 'storm,' is probably hyper- bole," she said. But it could end up packing a bigger punch in Southern California. Scattered showers and possible thunderstorms Friday are expected to fol- low an initial period of steady rain Thursday, Kit- tell said. Up to a half-inch of rain could fall in and around downtown Los Angeles, while foothill neighbor- hoods might see about an inch. Flooding and debris flows are possible if thun- derstorms form over foot- hill areas stripped bare by wildfires. In the mountains, the storm may dump up to 2 inches of snow as low as 5,000 feet. Kittell said a mid-May storm packing so much moisture in Southern Cal- ifornia is rare, though the region got a similar dous- ing last week. WEATHER Wi nd y st or m hi ts c oa st s of d ro ug ht -s tr ic ke n st at e RICHARD VOGEL — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Visitors and their dogs enjoy the day at the Sepulveda Basin Dog Park in the Encino section of Los Angeles. By Sue Manning The Associated Press LOS ANGELES Good weather can be bad for postal workers. Last year, 5,767 postal carriers were bitten by dogs, up from 5,581 in 2013, and the most attacks hap- pened in warm and sunny Los Angeles, Houston and San Diego, said Linda De- Carlo, manager of safety for the U.S. Postal Service. None of the bites caused deaths. The cities' weather draws pets and people outside and doors and windows get left open, DeCarlo said. The slight rise in bites also stems from the popularity of online shopping because postal workers must bring packages to front doors in- stead of street-side mail- boxes, DeCarlo said. But the biggest victims are children and senior cit- izens, who can be overpow- ered by dogs. Of the 4.5 million people bitten every year, more than half are kids, said Dr. Jose Arce, an American Medical Associa- tion board member. Bites kill about 16 people a year. National Dog Bite Pre- vention Week starts Sun- day, and this year's pro- grams launched Thursday. Because children are the most vulnerable and easily injured, the American Vet- erinary Medical Associa- tion will focus on teaching kids how to deal with dogs. Whatnottodo • Stare into a dog's eyes. • Tease a dog. • Approach one that's chained up or injured. • Touch a dog you don't know that's off a leash. • Run or scream if one charges. • Play with a dog while it's eating. • Touch one while it's sleeping. • Get close to one that's nursing puppies. • Leave a small child alone with a dog, even if it's the family pet. What to do • Ask an owner before petting a dog you don't know. • Let the dog sniff your closed fist before touch- ing it. • Freeze if a dog runs to- ward you. • Socialize puppies so they are comfortable around people and other animals. • Use a leash in public. How parents can help When the mail arrives, place your pet in a closed room so it can't go through a window or screen door to possibly attack the car- rier. Tell children not to take mail from the carrier in front of the dog because the animal could see it as threatening. Also, teach children to treat dogs with respect and avoid rough or aggres- sive play. What kids can watch The veterinary group made YouTube videos de- scribing miscommunica- tion between dogs and kids. A new short will be released each day through the week. Onegapisthatmostpooches don't like to be hugged. That helps explain why two-thirds of young victims get bites on the head or neck, according to the American Humane Association. Where bites happened Last year, 74 postal-car- rier bites were reported in Los Angeles, followed by Houston with 62 and San Diego with 47, DeCarlo said. The LA tally rose from 61 bites in 2013, when Houston was No. 1 with 63. San Di- ego moved up a notch from two years ago, when 53 postal workers were bitten. The Postal Service didn't break down the severity of injuries, but 1,540 bites kept employees from work for at least a day after the attack, DeCarlo said. Insurance payouts Bites and other dog-re- lated injuries cost insur- ers $530 million last year, about a third of their paid claims, the Insurance Infor- mation Institute said. The number of dog-bite claims decreased 4.7 per- cent from 2013, but the av- erage cost per claim rose by 15 percent because of higher medical costs and settlements. The average claim in 2014 was $32,072, up from $27,862. Reducing bites starts with how kids approach dogs PETS TICKETSJUST$15EACH,GETYOURSNOW! INCLUDESFIGHTNIGHTBUFFET&$5FREESLOTPLAY INCLUDES FIGHT NIGHT BUFFET & $5 FREE SLOT PLAY LIMITED TO FIRST 300 PEOPLE. MUST BE 21 TO ATTEND. GOLF•LODGING•EVENTCENTER GAMING • DINING • EQUESTRIAN I-5ATLIBERALAVE • CORNING WWW.ROLLINGHILLSCASINO.COM 10DamonAve.,RedBluff 530-527-3262 • www.tuscanpools.com TuscanPoolSupply 50lb.ClearviewTabs on SALE $ $ 140 14 0 .00 .00 thru end of June OPEN YEAR ROUND Locallyowned business offering high value, low cost energy for decades. Call Liam at 526-1551 or visit www.sacriversolar.com Lic# 996900 FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |NEWS | 5 A