California marks reopening with jackpots, Hollywood flair

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has celebrated the lifting of most COVID-19 restrictions in the nation’s most populated state. The governor visited Universal Studios Hollywood on Tuesday to host a lottery-style selection of 10 winners who will get $1.5 million each simply for being vaccinated. California was the first state in America to put in place a coronavirus lockdown, but it has turned a page on the pandemic. Most of California’s coronavirus restrictions are over, including masks, social distancing and capacity limits at businesses. Newsom cited the 40 million-plus doses of vaccine administered and the resulting plunge in cases.