By Mike Stobbe   NEW YORK (AP)—This year, the germs roared back. Measles tripled. Hepatitis A mushroomed. A rare but deadly mosquito-borne disease increased. And that was just the United States. Globally, there was an explosion of measles in many countries, an unrelenting Ebola outbreak in Africa and a surge in dengue fever in Asia. There were also backslides in some diseases, like polio, that the world was close to wiping out. “It's been a tough year for infectious diseases,” said Dr. Jonathan Mermin of the U.S. Centers for Disease...

LOS ANGELES (AP)—A young girl died Thursday night after she went into cardiac arrest on a plane flight out of Los Angeles International Airport, authorities said. The girl, believed to be about 10 years old, was on a Delta flight from LAX to Seattle when she had the medical problem. The plane, which was still over Southern California, returned to the airport, KABC-TV reported. Paramedics “furiously worked to save her life. Sadly, all efforts were futile and the child was beyond medical help,” the Los Angeles Fire Department tweeted. The girl was pronounced dead at...

By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com   Oxnard-- The conversation about the community outreach for the planned Oxnard Navigation Center continues with Ricardo Bravo, who owns a barbershop in the area.   The Oxnard Navigation Center will have 110 beds and serve as a year-round 24-hour shelter with shower and laundry facilities. Additionally, the navigation center will have meal and pet services, housing navigation, and case management services for Oxnard's homeless population at 1258 Saviers Road.   Bravo wants to have a real meeting and...

By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com   Oxnard-- The GOOD (Greater Oxnard Organization of Democrats) is entrenched on A Street at its new headquarters with enhanced capability and continues to focus on being the center of progressive candidates and supporters moving forward.    The group is ready to take on the election in 2020 and will do so at 555 South A Street, Suite 130, in the heart of downtown.   GOOD Club President Steven Auclair said the group had great success in 2018, defeating the recall vote and had an election office for the...

By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com   Oxnard-- Collection Park enjoyed a tremendous celebration, Dec. 29, as the 17th annual Chanukah Festival, filled the park with a joyous celebration of Judaism.   Attendees enjoyed live musical entertainment, hot latkes, holiday crafts, children's activities, and adult wine tasting courtesy of the Herzog Wine Club.   Fantastic Patrick's juggling and comedy show entertained the crowd and kept the group laughing.   The group also built the first-ever Can-Orah that benefitted the Food...

Oxnard, CA, 12/30/19 - Oxnard Mayor Pro Tem Carmen Ramirez,  Esq.  announces she has gained the endorsement of CAUSE Action Fund (Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy) for her run for Supervisor in the 2020 primary election to be held Tuesday, March 3, 2020. CAUSE  Action is dedicated to social economic and environmental justice throughout the Central Coast of California. They educate and mobilize immigrant, working-class and young voters to build grassroots political power and leadership in our community.  In response to the endorsement by CAUSE,...

By Eric Heinz   LOS ANGELES (CNS)—One day before the Democratic presidential hopefuls gathered in Westchester for their sixth debate, the party's leader met with local elected officials in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday for a panel discussion to stress the importance of federal health care options for Latinos. Tom Perez, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo, D-Los Angeles, and California health care stakeholders focused their discussion on what they see as threats on the federal level...

SAN FRANCISCO—More than half of U.S. states have legalized marijuana for medicinal or recreational use by adults. This holiday season, California Poison Control reminds all adults to practice caution when using or serving cannabis-containing edible items such as cookies, candies, pastries or beverages during Christmas events and New Year’s celebrations. These items should not be prepared or served where children are present in order to minimize the risk of accidental exposure for youngsters and teens. The risk increases with edibles because children love holiday goodies and...

By Don Thompson   SACRAMENTO (AP)—One of Northern California's largest health systems will pay $575 million to settle claims that it used anti-competitive practices to bump up costs for patients, the state's attorney general said Friday, though that falls short of damages sought in a related private lawsuit that could have exceeded $1 billion. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra had sought an injunction to stop the alleged anti-trust practices by Sutter Health, but no monetary damages. The settlement imposes a new court-approved monitor on the health...

By Dwight Brown   Look back on the most noteworthy films of 2019 and they all display a diverse array of superb talent—in front of and behind the camera. These movies entertained, educated and often inspired us. They challenged our opinions. They made us contemplate our fate and become more aware of the world around us. Enjoy. Best Films Booksmart (***1/2) – Two coeds (Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever), high-school outcasts, find refuge in their close friendship. Animated performances.  Funny and thoughtful dialogue. Astute comic direction by...