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RANDI ROSSMANN

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT | April 25, 2017, 12:43PM

| Updated 1 hour ago.

Heroin overdoses have caused five deaths in Sonoma County in the past 10 days, according to Sonoma County Coroners Office officials, who warned Tuesday the spike in fatalities could mean a particularly potent batch of the drug is on the streets.

The deaths of three men and two women all occurred in the Santa Rosa area, said Sheriffs Sgt. Spencer Crum.

One commonality is theyre all dying and appear to have recently injected heroin, he said.

Final autopsy and toxicology reports are still pending, but coroners officials Tuesday decided to release the information, believing heroin the likely cause and hoping to prevent another death, Crum said.

The five victims came from a range of age and social standing. The men were 28, 29 and 52 years old and the women were 27 and 66. Three two men and one woman were homeless. The circumstances of their deaths also varied. One died in a Starbucks bathroom.

The rash of five deaths since mid-April was a marked jump in the countys monthly totals. Two people died from overdosing on heroin in March and one person died in both January and February, according to coroners statistics.

This is definitely a spike for us. We have the occasional overdose death, Crum said. But its not been like this in this short of time.

The nine heroin overdoses so far this year also stand out when compared with the two such deaths in the first four months of 2016, according to the Coroners Office. People also are dying from overdosing on drugs other than heroin; there were 15 such deaths in the same time period in 2016 and 21 deaths so far this year.

Unfortunately, Im not surprised, said Mike Perry, Sonoma Countys chief deputy public defender, who oversees the countys drug court that works with defendants who have drug problems and are facing criminal charges. Heroin addiction for years was an infrequent factor in drug court cases, overshadowed by people with methamphetamine problems. But there has been a dramatic shift over the last three or so years and most drug court clients now are heroin addicts, Perry said.

Its just shocking. Ive been doing this work for over 39 years and Ive never seen a demographic shift like this, said Perry. Its turned so quickly. Were losing people. All my clients know people whove died.

Sonoma Countys spike in heroin deaths is a common story nationwide and internationally. An increase in heroin addictions, overdoses and fatalities, coupled with abuse and deaths from synthetic opioid drugs such as fentanyl, are reaching crisis proportions. In 2015, 12,989 people died nationwide from heroin overdoses, quadrupling the number of annual deaths since the start of the century, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Because of how the data is reported, it can be difficult to distinguish heroin from other drug deaths. According to California Department of Public Health data, in 2015 there were 15 deaths due to heroin overdoses in Sonoma County, the majority men.

An online search Tuesday showed rising heroin deaths in a variety of places from Chilton County, Alabama to Delaware and British Columbia. U.S. legislators are making a bipartisan push for a bill to give U.S. Customs and Border Protection $15 million to improve efforts to find synthetic opioids coming into the county from Mexico and Canada.

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Santa Rosa police narcotics officers have been responding to an increase in opiate-related cases in recent years and have made multiple arrests of heroin dealers, including highlevel suspects.

Just like everybody else, were trying to battle this opioid epidemic, said Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Rich Celli, who oversees drug investigations. Weve been talking about opiates for the last couple of years. Were working them more and more now. It just seems like its everywhere.

A recent shift seen by narcotics officers has involved heroin users moving toward nonpharmaceutical fentanyl. The synthetic drug is cheaper than heroin, available online and is known to be stronger than morphine and heroin.

But heroin sold on the street is growing in potency, especially when cut with illegally made fentanyl.

Theyre kind of playing Russian roulette with fentanyl, with the way the dealers are cutting it, because its not pharmaceutical grade, Celli said.

In Santa Rosa, all fire engines and ambulances carry the drug Narcan, a prescription antidote for opioid overdose.

Its not an uncommon occurrence for paramedics to arrive at a scene and find somebody who was ingesting some sort of opiate, which depressed their respiratory system, said Santa Rosa fire Battalion Chief Mark Basque. A quick administer of Narcan will reverse the effects of the opioid.

But increasingly, Basque said, the Narcan dosage isnt keeping up with more potent heroin and fentanyl mixtures, and firefighters and paramedics are having to give a larger dose.

The warning released by the Coroners Office is directed at heroin and opioid users more than the general public, said Dr. Karen Milman, the Sonoma County health officer. County Health Services are spreading the word to counselors and care providers.

Were getting the information out as best as we can, Milman said. People are going to be most responsive when the hear it from someone they trust.

Staff Writer Nick Rahaim contributed to this report.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com.

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Spike in suspected heroin overdose deaths in Santa Rosa spurs public warning - Santa Rosa Press Democrat

Democrats enthused by last weeks primary in Georgia, and their strong showing in Kansas earlier this month, have been making noise about playing more aggressively in upcoming elections that were previously dismissed as long shots specifically Montana.

Mentioned less often, however, is South Carolina.

Most people dont realize SC-05 is the most competitive election of any of the specials weve had so farin terms of congressional matchups, said South Carolina Democratic strategist Tyler Jones.

By which he means that this districts Democratic candidate for Congress last fall earned a higher percentage of the vote than Democrats in the Kansas or Georgia districts. This years special election in the Peach States 6th District got all the early attention, Jonessaid, because of Hillary Clintons narrow loss there.

President Donald Trump carried South Carolinas 5th District by 9 points less than he carried Kansas 4th District in November.

While the Democrat still lost the Kansas special electionearlier this month, the Republicanwinner finished20 points worse than Trumps margin of victory last fall. If that shift in partisan performance in Kansas were applied in the South Carolina district, We would win, Archie Parnell saidin a Monday interview.

Parnell is the leading Democrat running for the seat left behind by former Rep. Mick Mulvaney, a co-founder of the Freedom Caucus, whos now the director of the Office of Management and Budget. Before Mulvaney, former Democratic Rep. John M. Spratt Jr. held the seat for 28 years.

The primaries to fill the seat are next week. Unlike Georgia, where 18 candidates from all parties ran together, Democrats and Republicans will run in separate contests on May 2. And if no one receives more than 50 percent of the vote, therell be runoffs two weeks later.

Out of seven Republicans, three are most often mentioned as front-runners: State House Speaker Pro Tempore Tommy Pope, former state Rep. Ralph Norman, and former South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Chad Connelly.

Among the three Democrats in the race, Parnell has raised the most money and has an impressive team behind him, including John Anzalone for polling and GMMB for media consulting.

Its not like the guy has spent 10 million bucks, but he is communicating. Hes out there, hes a full-time candidate, said one Democrat involved in the race. Parnell launched his first TV ad Monday, which he said is running on cable and broadcast.

All the Democratic Party establishment types he just waved his check and they fell in line, said South Carolina Democrat Phil Noble of Parnell, a former Goldman Sachs adviser. Noble questioned how much enthusiasm there is for a relatively unknown candidate on the ground.

Parnell gave his campaign $100,000 of the $243,000 he raised during the first quarter. Hes prepared to spend more of his own money on the race, but he wouldnt say how much. I have a number in my head, but thats in my head, he said.

Democrat Alexis Frank, a 26-year-old Army veteran, raised just $44,000, and admitted to voting for Mitt Romney. But Jones, the Democratic strategist, cautioned that shes not to be discounted. While Parnell has received the most national attention, both candidates have field operations that often go unnoticed outside the district. And even if Parnell does finish first, he still needs to clear 50 percent, not an easy feat in a three-way primary.

With Parnells round tortoise-shell glasses, the 66-year-old tax lawyer doesnt present the boyish fresh-face that Georgias Jon Ossoff does, nor does he offerthe quirkiness of Rob Quist,the Democratic nominee in Montana, whos a musician in the Mission Mountain Wood Band.

But Parnells defenders say hes not pretending to be anything he isnt, andthat might just be his biggest strength.

He supported Clinton in last years presidential primary, and although he wouldnt wade into social issues in theinterview, this father of two daughters left little doubt where he stands on abortion, an issue that recently roiled the Democratic Partys unity tour.

Im running for Congress, Im not running to be anybodys doctor, he said, adding that he also opposed Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood.

Parnell said hes in touch with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and that he expects to have more of the groupssupport after the primary. Hed be particularly appreciative of their resources and assistance in the field, he said.

With a 28 percent African-American population, Democrats argue that the district has more of Democratic base than Kansas. Similar to Georgias 6th, South Carolinas 5th District includes suburban businesspeople who commute to Charlotte. Its not a bunch of rednecks, Noble said.

Parnell knows the race will be a steep hill, but his campaign is looking to follow Ossoffs model of expandingturnout. In other words, they want to turn presidential-election voters into special-election voters.

But Georgia continues to suck up much of the national attention and some nearby South Carolina Democratic volunteers. The general election for both seats ison June 20.

No one is really talking about this race, other than mentioning it quickly, said one national Republican, pointing to Trumps 19-point victory in the district as an explanation.

Of course, Kansas went for Trump by even more than that, so you never know, the Republican added.

For Parnell, the next hurdle is winning next Tuesdays primary, possibly a runoff, and finding out who his Republican opponent will be.

It hasnt caught fire like the other ones, said one Democrat involved with Parnells race. But theres a spark there.

Correction 12:54 p.m. | An earlier version of this story misstated the number of years Rep. John M. Spratt Jr., D-S.C., held the 5th District seat. He represented the district for 28 years.

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Should Democrats Turn to South Carolina's Special Election Next? - Roll Call

New York Times

Donald Trump Is a Real Republican, and That's a Good Thing - The ... New York Times The agenda of the pre-New Deal G.O.P. offers a way forward in the 21st century. and more »

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Donald Trump Is a Real Republican, and That's a Good Thing - The ... - New York Times

Republicans from Pembroke, Kingston, Plymouth, Bourne, Sandwich and Falmouth will caucus next week to select a new state committeeman from the Plymouth and Barnstable district.

PLYMOUTH Republicans from Pembroke, Kingston, Plymouth, Bourne, Sandwich and Falmouth will caucus next week to select a new state committeeman from the Plymouth and Barnstable district.

State Sen. Vinny deMacedo, R-Plymouth, resigned from the position as state committeeman for the district earlier this month, citing increased demands of his work in the legislature.

DeMacedo, who has served as the districts state committeeman for more than three years, said his duties as a state senator prevent him from fulfilling duties of the job, which include attending monthly Republican Town Committee meetings in each of the districts six towns.

Ive loved serving the last three years, but it become too challenging with all the work were doing. This is my busy time, traveling all over the state and the district, deMacedo said.

Eligible Republican Committee Town Committee members from the six towns will chose deMacedos successor at a caucus next Wednesday at Hotel 1620 in downtown Plymouth. Each town can have up to 35 town committee members, so approximately 200 Republicans will be voting.

As of Thursday, only one Republican had publicly emerged as a candidate for the position.

Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald Jr. confirmed this week that he will seek the position.

McDonald, who was re-elected to a six-year term as sheriff in November, said he appreciates deMacedos work on behalf of the district and understands how the constraints of his office as well as the two-year election cycle make it difficult for him to serve on the State Committee.

McDonald, a Kingston resident, said serving in the position will give him an opportunity to give back to the Republicans who helped him in his elections. A lot of people, when I started, were very, very helpful to me, McDonald said.

Every state senate district has two state committee members a committeeman and a committeewoman. There are 40 districts in the state so the Republican State Committee has 80 members, 40 men and 40 women.

Barbara McCoy of Sagamore is the state committeewoman for the Plymouth and Barnstable district. She will lead the caucus. Nominations will be accepted from the caucus floor.

There are rumblings about a challenge for the position, possibly from Republicans from one of the districts towns on Cape Cod.

But Jenny Bruce, chairman of the Falmouth Republican Town Committee, said she has not heard of any candidates except McDonald being interested in the position. Bruce said she will miss the hard work deMacedo did on the committee, but she also knows McDonald and personally supports him for the post.

Laurie Curtis, chairman of the Plymouth Republican Town Committee, said local Republicans will not have time to meet to consider endorsing a candidate for the post before the caucus, but she also personally also supports the sheriff and believes others do as well. I know Sheriff McDonald has strong support among a lot of members, she said.

DeMacedo said he too will support the sheriff for the State Committee.

Im a big fan of Joe. Ive worked with him many times. Hes a great guy and a great friend. He certainly has my support, deMacedo said.

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REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE: Sheriff looking to succeed deMacedo on Republican State Committee - Wicked Local Pembroke

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced his long-awaited proposal to undo net neutrality Wednesday, officially restarting one of the most vicious and high-profile political fights of the Obama era.

When we are saddled with FCC rules that will deny many Americans high-speed internet access and jobs, doing nothing is nothing doing, Pai said at aWashington, D.C.event co-hosted by the right-wing political advocacy organization FreedomWorks. Instead, we need rules that focus on growth and infrastructure investment, rules that expand high-speed internet access everywhere and give Americans more online choice, faster speeds, and more innovation.

The FCC chairman wants to reverse the 2015 decision to regulate broadband internet providers like utilities under whats called a Title II classification. This requires telecoms to adhere to the principles of net neutrality, meaning that they cant throttle internet speeds in order to reduce congestion and persuade consumers to pay more for faster packages, or require services like Netflix to pay more for separate fast-lane service.

Pai waseagerto roll back the Obama administrations internet regulations even before he was named FCC chairman in January. We need to fire up the weed whacker and remove those rules that are holding back investment, innovation, and job creation, hesaid in a December speech while still an FCC commissioner.

And earlier this month, Pai loudly backed Republican legislation that undid rules preventing internet providers from selling personal user information, such as browsing histories, to advertisers.

Pai, who was formerly a corporate lawyer for Verizon, argues along with other conservatives that net neutralityrules inhibit internet infrastructure investment and circumvent Congressional authority. Instead, they say, regulatory authority should lie with the Federal Trade Commission, the agency that punishes corporations for deceptive or anti-competitive practices.

The FTC, however, doesnt actually write the rules by which telecoms have to abide the agency can only issue fines. Thus, several experts have argued, the FTC isnt equipped to enforce internet non-discrimination.

[Pais] plan would leave the FCC the expert agency tasked with overseeing communications networks without any role when it comes to the most important network in history, Obama-era FCC official Gigi Sohn wrote Wednesday in a story for Mashable. This would leave the FCC powerless to prohibit fraudulent billing, price gouging, and practices that violate consumers privacy.

Acting FTC Chairman Maureen Ohlhausen, an ideological ally of Pai who is widely believed to be auditioning for the permanent job, has positioned her agency as fully capable of punishing companies for violations.

Investigation and enforcement is a particular strength of the FTC, Ohlhausen said recently at a Washington conference on privacy and the law. I have a lot of confidence in the FTC and our abilities, thats the message I want to put forth.

Ohlhausen released a statement Wednesday shortly after Pais speech concluded, calling it an important step toward restoring the FTCs ability to protect broadband subscribers from unfair and deceptive practices, including violations of their privacy.

Net neutrality advocates and most of Silicon Valley, however, argue that internet providers shouldnt be able to determine what consumers get access to and how they get access to it. And the American public would seem to agree. When the FCC was accepting public comment about net neutrality reforms in 2014, the agency said it received more than 3 million submissions, about two-thirds of which supported Title II reclassification.

One poll taken after the recent privacy rollback bill was quickly shoved through Congress found that 83 percent of the country opposed the legislation.

Last months attack on broadband privacy was just the Republicans opening salvo we cannot and will not let the defeat of net neutrality happen, Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey said on a call with reporters prior to Pais Wednesday address.

He he was joined by Connecticut Sen. Dick Blumenthal and Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden; all three all Democrats.Blumenthal noted that more than 800 startups have signaled their support for net neutrality.

Advocates for net neutrality believe they can garner enough support ahead of the anticipated mid-May FCC vote on Pais proposal in order to kill it in Congress. Evan Greer, campaign director of the civil liberties group Fight for the Future, pointed to the 50 House Republicans who broke ranks on Aprils broadband privacy vote despite the fact that opponents had so little time to lobby before the vote.

We have several weeks at least to mobilize opposition to this, Greer said. Republicans are misjudging their base on this issue. The reality is that outside of the Beltway, this is not a partisan issue. I think the more we get into this, the more the GOP and the Trump administration is going to hear from their voters that they are just plain wrong.

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The Republican plan to kill net neutrality could change the internet forever - VICE News