Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom began his Thursday press conference speaking about the state’s efforts to mitigate wildfires, announcing the addition of 12 Blackhawk helicopters to the state’s fleet as wildfire season begins to peak. He then transitioned to addressing a more immediate conflagration.Newsom announced a record number of daily deaths from COVID-19, with 149 lives lost over the past 24 hours.