By Will Swaim, includes “…The lethality of this epidemic has been overshadowed by the more prominent, global epidemiological one. But state, county, city and school officials confronting this problem know that the stakes are just as high. Sacramento Unified is staring down the barrel of bankruptcy. … Placentia offers local municipalities a key to escaping from government unions’ crushing costs. In July, Placentia canceled its contract with the Orange County Fire Authority …”