Schools see record number of positive Covid tests A3
Ganther, Warren land jobs as college assistants B1
FRIDAY | January 14, 2022 | $1.00
DAILYREPUBLIC.COM | Well said. Well read.
Solano shows 5,200 Covid case bump
High court halts vaccine mandate for businesses
with reporting adjustment
Todd R. Hansen
THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET
Tribune Content Agency WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked President Joe Biden’s plan to require that most workers be vaccinated against Covid-19 or undergo weekly testing. But the justices, in a separate decision, upheld a smaller and more targeted regulation that will require workers in hospitals and nursing facilities to be vaccinated. This rule, once put into effect, is expected to cover about 17 million people working in healthcare, the administration said. In blocking the broader workplace rule, the court’s conservative majority agreed with Republican state attorneys who contended the president had overstepped his authority by requiring workers in companies and agencies with more than 100 employees to be vaccinated or tested regularly. There were exemptions for those who worked outdoors or at home, or had medical or religious objections. The vote was 6-3. Biden’s rule was based on the Occupational Safety Health Act of 1970, which protects employees from toxins and other dangers in the workplace. The justices said it does not go so far as to authorize mandatory vaccinations. In an unsigned opinion, the court’s conservatives said “it is telling that OSHA, in its See Court, Page A9
Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic
Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/TNS
Visitors wearing face masks walk up a flight of stairs in the new Solano Transportation Authority building in Suisun City, Wednesday.
FAIRFIELD — The Solano County Public Health Division on Thursday reported 5,205 new positive coronavirus cases since the last report Monday, an increase that includes reporting adjustments that date back to Dec. 26. It includes single-day case totals of 1,200 reported Jan. 4 and again Jan. 5, Dr. Bela Matyas, the county public health officer, said in a phone interview. The average daily case rate over the past 10 days has been 566.6, with a seven-day positivity testing rate at 32%. The update puts the pandemic case total at 57,641. “It better shows how intense the surge has been,” Matyas said of the adjustments received from the state. However, with only 112 residents hospitalized as of Thursday – 21 in intensive care units – the numbers also affirm “the disease caused by omicron is less severe than the disease caused by delta,” Matyas said. And the case numbers could be even higher. “It’s still underreporting the home test kits and the pop-up test (locations) that do not report to the state,” Matyas said. The county did not have its usual Wednesday update due to technical issues, but Matyas said he believes the issue has been fixed. That would leave county health officials on track for the next scheduled update late Friday afternoon. See Bump, Page A9
President Joe Biden speaks to the media after attending a meeting with the Senate Democratic Caucus on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Thursday.
Vaca Boys & Girls Club raising Biden’s hopes for voting rights money to build new facility bill dashed
Todd R. Hansen
THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET
Sinema, Manchin reject filibuster change Tribune Content Agency WASHINGTON — Democrats’ strategy to begin a Senate debate on voting rights began to crumble Thursday when two key moderates reiterated their support for keeping the filibuster, another Democrat quarantined with Covid-19 and President Joe Biden expressed doubt that landmark legislation would land on his desk anytime soon. A day that began with momentum for Senate Democrats soon devolved into another day of disappointment as the chamber barreled toward a self-imposed Jan. 17 deadline to pass two measures – the Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act – even if that meant they’d have to change long-standing filibuster rules to do so. But by the end of the day, it appeared Democrats lacked the votes to accomplish either. Ahead of a Biden visit to Capitol Hill to rally Democrats, centrist Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, See Biden, Page A9 SUNDAY
Parade coming this weekend. Look for the insert in the DR.
VACAVILLE — Supporters of the Vacaville Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club raised their glasses Thursday night to a new year and hopes for a new club facility. Anna Eaton, the executive director of the youth organization, announced that the club has raised more than $3.46 million of its $4.5 million goal to build a new 8,000-squarefoot facility on Browns Road. The announcement was made during a “Raise Your Glass” event that combined a social gathering and a business meeting at the Opera House in downtown Vacaville. Eaton also announced that Jayden Tuck, 15, has been named Youth of the Year and will serves as the club’s ambassador. The Volunteer of the Year is Olivia Esparza, the
Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic
Anna Eaton speaks during a Vacaville Boys and Girls Club meeting at the Opera House in Vacaville, Thursday. director of marketing and business development at Cal Inc. in Vacaville. The “Building Brighter Future Campaign” started in the summer of 2020. Eaton said she hopes the Solano County communities will help the organization get to the finish line. “This is just an opportunity to invite the community to get involved and help us raise the rest
INDEX Arts B4 | Classifieds B6 | Comics A7, B5 | Crossword A5, B4 Opinion B3 | Sports B1 | TV Daily A7, B5 WEATHER 63 | 41 Partly sunny. More on B10.
of the funds,” said Eaton, who added all the contributions to date are from
local individuals, companies and corporations. In addition to the main facility, the youth organization also hopes to build a 2,000-square-foot sports court, all to be located on 1 acre of city-owned land near the William J. Carroll Government Center. The city owns 4 acres at the location. “The city is also building a new housing facility for its department, and the other 2 acres will be for a park space for the neighbors there,” Eaton said. See Club, Page A9
3VJHS .PYS 2UV^Z 9LHS ,Z[H[L Dr. David P. Simon,
MD, FACS. Eye Physician & Surgeon, Col. (Ret.), USAF Services include:
• Routine Eye Exams • Comprehensive Ophthalmology • Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration Care • Diabetic Eye Exams • Dry Eye Treatment • Cataract Surgery • LASIK Surgery • BOTOX
Now Accepting New Patients! 3260 Beard Rd #5 Napa
707-256-5000 simoneyesmd.com
:HUKYH 9P[JOL` )\[SLY 9,(3;69® +9,
ZHI\[SLY 'NTHPS JVT