The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says all forecast models predict an increase in U.S. deaths in the coming weeks, exceeding 100,000 by June 1.
California surpassed 75,000 coronavirus cases Friday as officials continue to ease stay-at-home restrictions. Across the state, more than 3,000 people have died from causes related to COVID-19. Nearly half of coronavirus cases — 35,447 — and more than half of related deaths — 1,711 — are among residents of Los Angeles County. — L.A. Times
A study is predicting Southern California’s local governments will suffer “severe and long-lasting” impacts because of the coronavirus crisis. L.A., Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties are predicted to have an unemployment rate of 19.3% this year and 12.2% in 2021. The sharp change comes after the region saw an unemployment rate of about 4% in January and February. — CBS Los Angeles
L.A. are you watching? Berkeley introduced legislation to fully close many of the city’s streets, repurposing them as seating areas for the city’s vibrant restaurant scene. Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín said the plan was inspired by news coverage of the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, which announced last month it would turn its plazas, streets and squares into “a vast, open-air cafe” to allow bars and restaurants to serve patrons during the coronavirus crisis. — Eater
“I think you’ll see a lot of young cooks find a lane for themselves because the traditional restaurant model may not work anymore,” said Kogi founder Roy Choi. “It could further blur the line between what’s street food and what’s a restaurant, like how it is in Mexico or South America. Hopefully, it’ll lead to street food being further woven into the city’s fabric and ultimately provide an easier pathway for cooks to open up these new establishments.” — Los Angeles Magazine
While treats like chips, popcorn and ice cream — and for some reason oat milk — topped grocery purchases during the first few weeks of COVID-19 lockdowns, more Americans continue to turn to a different kind of comfort food: plant-based meat alternatives. Grocery store sales of products like Beyond Meat and Tofurky were up 264% during a nine-week period ending on May 2. — The Verge
Speaking of grocery stores: A worker at a Ralphs in Sherman Oaks and another in Culver City have died in the last week after being hospitalized for COVID-19. The news was tragic but not surprising to workers at the 45 local Ralphs stores where workers have tested positive. — NBC Los Angeles
Online reservation service OpenTable says 25% of U.S. restaurants won’t reopen. Restaurants lost more than $30 billion in sales during March and $50 billion in April. — Bloomberg
David Cross, Bryan Cranston, Heidi Gardner, Jack Black, Tony Hale, Patton Oswalt, Sarah Silverman, Bob Odenkirk, Amber Tamblyn and many others have joined together to sing a serious version of Weird Al’s classic 1984 Michael Jackson parody, “Eat It”:
L.A. is falling in love with big, greasy underground pan pizzas during the quarantine. “My job, before this all happened, was in travel,“ said Dough Daddy’s owner, who wishes to remain anonymous because of the delicate nature of his Instagram operation. “And like most of the rest of America, just like that, it was all gone in a flash.” — EaterLA
L.A.’s first legal liquor store on wheels hits the streets next week. “We hear people tell us all the time, ‘Oh we love what you guys are doing but we don’t want to drive to East L.A. and City Terrace, it’s too far! So this is our way to expose ourselves to different areas around Los Angeles.” — L.A. Taco
Scary news from the CDC:
City Attorney Mike Feuer announced today that his office is suing L.A.-based Insan Healing and CEO Angela Oh for having allegedly advertised and sold “Radish Paste” to protect lungs and prevent COVID-19. “We’ve got to stop those who use the fear fueled by the COVID-19 crisis to prey on people desperate to avoid the virus,” Feuer said. “Today it’s radish paste, which the defendants peddled as ‘a must-have product for the protection and prevention of the COVID-19, cold and flu season.'” — L.A. City Attorney
The Democratic Socialists of America have picked up about 10,000 new members — growth that organizers attribute, in part, to the coronavirus pandemic. “There’s the sense that [this situation] is unacceptable and immoral, and that feeling is really pushing people into the meticulous work of organizing,” said Julia Shannon, who sits on the steering committee for the Los Angeles DSA. Her chapter gained 300 members in April, their largest period of growth ever. “We have to try to work toward harnessing that momentum and energy to create structures that work for the majority of people.” — The Atlantic
Where do I need to wear a mask? The rules vary across Southern California. — L.A. Times
The University of Southern California is hosting a virtual graduation on Twitter. Just follow the hashtag #USCGrad to see the class of 2020 — and some party crashers:
The Motion Picture and Television Fund is hosting a virtual event for its COVID-19 emergency relief fund, which helps entertainment industry workers hit hard by the pandemic. Some of the stars who will take part include George Clooney, Hugh Jackman, Michael Douglas, Jodie Foster, Allison Janney, Ray Romano, Pierce Brosnan, Jeff Bridges, Brad Garrett, Taye Diggs, Wanda Sykes, Ken Jeong, Ming-Na Wen and Matt Bomer. The virtual event starts at 6 p.m. on the fund’s YouTube page. — CBS Los Angeles
One day you wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy; the next day, you find yourself in this weird, dark nightmare. Kesha tells graduates it’s OK to be mad at what’s going on right now:
A homeless man’s photo essay of life during coronavirus: “When the lockdown went into effect, I was homeless in the Fairfax District. My homelessness wasn’t a temporary thing. I’ve been homeless my entire adult life. It’s a lifestyle choice. Some guys were asking me once, ‘You smoke dope?’ I told them no. ‘You drink?’ ‘No.’ ‘Then why you be bumming everywhere?’ ‘Because I’m a bum.’ They laughed and started calling me Bumdog. The name stuck.” — LAist
Imperial County, which has among the worst air quality and the highest asthma rates in the country, now has the highest per capita rate of coronavirus hospitalization in California. — Desert Sun
The city of Malibu has announced all its parks have now reopened. The city reported that Malibu Bluffs Park, Legacy Park, Las Flores Creek Park, Trancas Canyon Park and Dog Park and Malibu Equestrian Park had reopened beginning at noon. — CBS Los Angeles
Thursday, May 14, 2020
The Beaches Reopened — Be Cool
“I don’t want to turn Los Angeles into some sort of police state,” said L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti in response to businesses defying stay-at-home orders.
As of today, there have been 73,551 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in L.A. County and 2,984 deaths. — L.A. Times
An influential model often cited by the White House now predicts that 147,000 people in the U.S. will die from the virus by August, said Dr. Chris Murray, the researcher behind the model. That’s double what was projected two weeks ago. “We originally had thought that people would go the distance, keep social distance in place right until the end of May,” Murray said. “But what’s happened is states have relaxed early.” — CNN Wire
Faster than you could say, “I want a haircut,” there was a steep rise in coronavirus cases reported in Orange County following the large crowds on the beaches on April 25-26. During the week of April 20-26, there were 438 cases behind the Orange Curtain. The week after that, 669 cases were reported, and the week after that, 759 cases. Further investigation is needed to determine whether the beaches were a source of spread for an outbreak or if the increase could be explained by other factors, such as increased testing. — L.A. Times
More than 300,000 people around the world have now died from the coronavirus, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University, as the pandemic passed yet another bleak milestone on Thursday. More than 4.4 million cases have also been recorded, according to the university’s count. — CNN Wire
“I don’t want to turn Los Angeles into some sort of police state,” said L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti in response to questions about businesses defying the stay-at-home order. “This isn’t about government doing something to us. This is about collective decisions.” He also added that “one percent of people can screw this up for everybody else.” — Deadline
Children’s Hospital diagnosed its fourth child with a disease linked to COVID-19. Three of the young patients at CHLA, ages ranging from 8 months to 2 years, have now recovered from Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome and returned home. A fourth child remains in critical condition. — NBC Los Angeles
Gulp: Covina’s Charter Oak School Board President Brian Akers drank a beer during a meeting conducted on Zoom and now parents are demanding he resign. “First it was a shock,” said Gregg Platto, school psychologist.” No way could that have been a beer, maybe a root beer. Then we look back on the live and yup, that’s a Pacifico!” — NBC Los Angeles
While it’s newsworthy that the FBI seized Sen. Richard Burr’s cellphone as part of the Justice Department’s investigation into stock trades he made soon after he was briefed about the forthcoming pandemic; of note is a prior warrant the feds served on Apple to obtain information from the Republican’s iCloud account. That information was then used to obtain the warrant for the senator’s iPhone. In 2012, the STOCK Act was passed, prohibiting lawmakers from acting on intelligence they garner in situations like briefings with high-level officials. Guess who was one of the senators against the bill? — L.A. Times
The U.S. Air Force Air Force Thunderbirds, who were originally announced to fly over L.A. Wednesday, will now honor health care workers from above on Friday around 1:10 p.m. — NBC Los Angeles
Friends in high places: A private jet company in Van Nuys founded by a Trump donor received a $27 million bailout. Clay Lacy Aviation, which serves wealthy executives and celebrities, received the government grant as part of the CARES Act, the federal stimulus package aimed at supporting jobs during the coronavirus crisis. — CNBC
Olaf would like a word with you. Once you dry your eyes, there’s a full story from Todd Martens. — L.A. Times
Our house was a refuge — until COVID-19 came home. The great Alissa Walker writes: “When will it be the same again?” my daughter asks, and I want to tell her it won’t. I am part of an entire generation of women caring simultaneously for kids we had later and parents who are living longer. Now with the nursing facilities that we believed were safe being compromised, many of us will end up making room at home for our parents, surrendering our careers to tend to their health issues. I can’t stop thinking that if I’d just moved my parents in with me before this moment, I somehow could have saved their lives.” — Curbed
In 24 states the number of new coronavirus cases reported each day is generally going down. In 17 states the numbers are holding steady, and in nine states the numbers of new cases are still rising. — CNN
FOX 11 confronted a man selling fake N-95 masks in DTLA for quadruple their current market value. The news station purchased some of the masks while undercover and brought them to an expert who identified them as counterfeit within a matter of seconds. The seller has a kiosk set up on the sidewalk near 7th and Figueroa streets in front of a retail store complex. — FOX 11
Whistleblower Rick Bright warned on Thursday that the U.S. lacks a plan to produce and fairly distribute a coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available. The nation could face “the darkest winter in modern history” unless leaders act decisively, he told a congressional panel. — KTLA
These charts show how L.A. overtook Northern California as the state’s coronavirus epicenter. The Bay Area was our state’s first COVID-19 hot spot, but the pandemic’s focal point quickly shifted south. Today, it’s clear L.A. has borne the brunt of pandemic’s devastation thus far. — San Francisco Chronicle
Beaches reopened yesterday across the county and people were stoked. “The beach is where people go to not just recreate, but just take a piece of mind off,” said Manhattan Beach Mayor Richard Montgomery, who was at the beach at 6:30 a.m. — NPR
Will there be a Fourth of July fireworks show in San Pedro? “It’s a definite maybe,” said the president of the Cabrillo Beach Boosters, which sponsors the event every year. — Daily Breeze
Paavo Siljamäki, one-third of the electronic music act Above & Beyond, has long been into yoga, nutrition and other sundry healthy choices, but no amount downward dog could have prepared him for the coronavirus. What was it like? “I had really, really severe chest pains. … On about day 11, I woke up at 5 a.m. thinking I was having a heart attack,” he said. “I had severe, excruciating chest pains. It was just terrifying. I had a lot of physical pain, but when you multiply it with the emotional side of being ill … I know a lot of people who are ill with COVID-19, and a lot of them have to go through this alone. It’s one thing having someone there to say it’s going to be all right, but when it’s just you in isolation having to deal with it, that was really challenging for me.” — Billboard
For 15 years, Adam Chester has performed Elton John’s parts in rehearsals with the musician’s band. But with John sitting out during the pandemic, Chester is rocking out in socially distant concerts from his Sherman Oaks cul-de-sac. — AP
How long does the Rona last on clothes and shoes? Should you wash your clothes immediately upon your return from outside? What about all those Amazon packages? Your questions answered here. — L.A. Times
Going to the gym will be much different in the near future. “We’re going to open the clubs for an hour at a time; let people come in and workout, then we’ll close the club for 30 minutes in order to do a deep cleaning,” said 24 Hour Fitness CEO Tony Ueber. “And then open it back up for another 60-minute segment.” — FOX 11
Paige Okray, a 10-year-old Riverside resident, wanted to hug her grandma so she invented the “hug curtain” — a shower curtain sealed over a doorway with strategically placed arm slots:
More good news: Nate ‘n Al’s will reopen tomorrow thanks to a new deal with the restaurant’s landlords. Get your nosh on via takeout and delivery. — EaterLA
The L.A. City Council is backing a congressional bill condemning anti-Asian and Pacific Islander incidents that have grown in number since the COVID-19 outbreak. The bill would also direct local authorities to take legal action against credible threats of hate crimes. Since the start of the pandemic, the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council has recorded 1,700 hate incidents in the United States. — LAist
After nearly two weeks without any deaths related to the coronavirus, Ventura County reports five. All of those who died had other health problems, according to the county. — L.A. Times
The urge to get the hell out of L.A. will be strong once things start to return to normal. One place locals will escape to will be Vegas. Expect lower occupancy at the hotels on the strip, as well as many places at which to wash hands and discounted room rates. To maintain social distancing, the Nevada Gaming Control Board will limit craps tables to six players. Blackjack tables will be capped at three. Chips, playing cards and dice will be sanitized. — L.A. Times
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Coronavirus: Hollywood Bowl’s Season Axed for the First Time in 98 Years
Mayor Eric Garcetti’s message to an anxious, quarantined, impatient city: “Don’t freak out.”
Today L.A. County beaches have reopened under the following rules: KEEP MOVING: Swimming, surfing, running, walking, individual/family activities and exercise only. NO: Sunbathing, sitting on sand, canopies, coolers or picnicking. REQUIRED: Physical distancing 6-plus feet from others and face-covering when outside the water and around others. CLOSED: Beach parking lots, bike path, piers, and boardwalks.
All 23 California State University campuses will remain closed through the fall semester. CSU Chancellor Timothy White explained to trustees that non-partisan researchers and health experts forecast additional waves of the deadly COVID-19 infection in the fall. He added that the public immunity rate is very low, and it is unlikely a vaccine will be developed during the academic year. Therefore online instruction will continue. — ABC7
Additionally: Cal State students will receive no tuition breaks for online courses. — LAist
Mayor Eric Garcetti to Angelenos: Don’t Freak Out. “I think we all have to recognize that we’re not moving beyond COVID-19, we’re learning to live with it,” he said. “It’s important not to overreact but it’s important to take this serious because it’s as dangerous today as it was the first day that it arrived in our cities and our country.” — ABC7
Quarantine fatigue is real. Shaming people for wanting to go outside is not helpful, according to a Harvard University professor. Instead of an all-or-nothing approach to risk prevention, Americans need a manual on how to have a life during a pandemic. — The Atlantic
The Associated Press obtained a 63-page document that is more detailed than other, previously reported segments of the shelved guidance from the CDC. One of many differences is advice for when communities should allow for the resumption of nonessential travel. The shelved CDC guide is cautious and advises only a “consideration” of the resumption of such travel after 42 continuous days of declining COVID-19 cases. The White House plan has communities returning to casual traveling in about half that time. — AP
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported that 120 employees and 411 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. According to numbers released Wednesday, 331 employees are currently quarantined. — CBS Los Angeles
Some good news: The L.A. County Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance Tuesday giving maintenance workers, security guards and hospitality industry employees a “right of recall” to jobs from which they were laid off during the coronavirus crisis. When rehiring, employers will be required to offer jobs to those who once held them if the worker was let go as a result of a downturn in business related to the pandemic. Employees must have worked at the business for at least six months to qualify. — City News Service
Could an emergency universal basic income ease some of the economic pain, befalling Angelenos? An economist and associate professor at the University of La Verne thinks so. “It’s a dual challenge, to flatten the curve and to stay home, but if you stay home you can’t make money,” said Soomi Lee who studies and writes about UBI, a system that seems to work in Alaska. “The only solution for me is to give (people) money to stay home.” — University of La Verne
Good news: A teenager in Encino is trying to source masks for health care workers and he has developed a delicious scheme. The first 500 people who bring two non-medical grade reusable masks will get a free cheeseburger and drink from an In-N-Out truck. The event is scheduled for Saturday between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. on the corner of Green Meadow and Lake Encino drives. — FoxLA
Bad news: Millions of N95 masks and other crucial supplies used by health care workers across the U.S. are counterfeit. “It’s just unprecedented,” said Steve Francis, Homeland Security Investigations’ assistant director for global trade investigations. “These are really bad times for people who are out there trying to do the right thing and be helpful, and they end up being exploited.” — AP
For the first time in 98 years, the Hollywood Bowl’s season has been canceled. The L.A. Times has an exhaustive look at its incredible history. — L.A. Times
Remembering our old friend, Souplantation. The loss in the soup and salad world prompted Jorge Rosas, a software architect by day and guitarist for punk band Tecolote by night, to create an online space for diners in mourning to post some of their favorite moments there. Aptly named Memories of Souplantation, the four-day-old website already has a handful of entries ranging in emotions. — L.A. Taco
It has come to this, hasn’t it: The Eater guide to eating in your car. — EaterLA
Some employers who were giving their staff bonuses for working during the early stages of the pandemic are now cutting off the “Hero Pay.” Starbucks employees who were given $3 raises will see them terminate at the end of May. So will Target’s $2 hourly raise. Kroger-owned grocery chains, such as Ralphs, will stop paying an extra $2 per hour on Sunday. — L.A. Times
Dearly beloved — would you like to party like it’s 1985? Prince’s estate is releasing a free livestream of a Purple Rain-era concert to support the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization. From Thursday, May 14 to Sunday, May 17, viewers can watch a 26-year-old Purple One dole out the hits. — Billboard
L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer said Tuesday that his office had filed criminal complaints against 60 businesses operating in violation of the city’s safer-at-home order. The businesses include tobacco stores, gyms, hair salons, beauty supply stores and a car wash. — CBS Los Angeles
Merchants on the street known as the birthplace of L.A. are asking for relief from the city. “Olvera Street is a living part of our history here in Los Angeles so that’s what it encompasses, it’s culture, it’s traditions, it’s family. We have our large traditional events so we have Blessing of the Animals, Day of the Dead, Las Posadas, which bring in quite a large number of people,” said Valerie Hanley, owner of Casa California. “It is a ghost town. It’s difficult for a lot of our merchants because we’re very unsure of what’s going to happen unless the city is able to give us some relief.” — FoxLA
Beyond the flush and stall itself, the way our public restrooms are organized doesn’t bode well for social distancing, says Kathryn Anthony, a professor of architecture and also a board member of the American Restroom Association. For venues that anticipate people being squeamish about touching door handles, we may see the adoption of S-shaped restrooms that don’t have entrance doors and instead use a winding shape to keep stalls from view. Anthony also advocates for gender-neutral restrooms, to prevent incidents particularly at high-traffic events where women have to wait in long, closely packed lines while men’s rooms remain fairly empty. — Fast Company
Air travel complaints surged 15 times the normal amount in the past two months, as passengers complained about airline refunds during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. — CNN
USC announced today that it will host an all-day virtual celebration for the class of 2020 on Friday. “Though we will have a commencement ceremony at a later time, we just can’t let this important moment go unrecognized,” said college president Carol Folt. “We have to celebrate the degrees these graduates earned. This is our virtual hug until we can give them a real one.” — CBS Los Angeles
Hector Hernandez, the CEO of Los Angeles Community Hospital, is recovering from coronavirus with a new appreciation for the work done by doctors and nurses. “Don’t feel invincible. The virus is here,” said Hernandez, who was asymptomatic other than a fever. — ABC7
Zoom’s surge in popularity made Google and Facebook take notice and add features to compete. — KTLA
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
L.A.’s Stay-at-Home Orders May Extend Through July
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi proposes a $3 trillion relief package which includes another $1,200 check for you and you and even you.
L.A. has confirmed 39 new deaths and 591 additional cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours. That brings the totals to:
Los Angeles County: 32,258 confirmed cases, 1,569 deaths
Orange County: 3,557 cases, 76 deaths
Riverside County: 5,189 confirmed cases, 217 deaths
San Bernardino County: 3,015 cases, 115 deaths
Ventura County: 678 cases, 19 deaths
— ABC7
L.A. County will “with all certainty” keep stay-at-home orders in place through July. “Our hope is that by using the data, we’d be able to slowly lift restrictions over the next three months,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County Department of Public Health director. But without widely available testing for the coronavirus or rapid at-home versions that would allow people to test themselves daily, it seems unlikely that restrictions would be completely eased, she said. — LAist
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled a $3 trillion-plus coronavirus aid package today, providing nearly $1 trillion for states and cities, “hazard pay” for essential workers, a fresh round of $1,200 direct cash aid to individuals and launches a $175 billion housing assistance fund to help pay rents and mortgages. It would also fund the $600-per-week boost to unemployment benefits through January. It adds a 15% increase for food stamps and new help for paying employer-backed health coverage. For businesses, the package includes an employee retention tax credit. — AP
This morning, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the physician and immunologist who has served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, warned the Senate that reopening states or the country too early could “turn the clock back” resulting in avoidable “suffering and death” and further economic damage. — AP
After surveying 410 reopened businesses over the weekend, L.A. County health inspectors found 162 in violation of certain measures like keeping people six feet apart and requiring masks. That’s nearly 40% of the businesses inspected. A few of the stores were forced to close over violations. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said city inspectors issued notices to 27 businesses. — KTLA
In the wake of rescinding stay-at-home orders, Riverside County reports a rise in coronavirus cases. With 5,189 confirmed cases and 217 deaths, the county now has the second-highest number of cases in the state behind L.A. County. — L.A. Times
L.A. County has confirmed more than 32,000 COVID-19 cases, including 134 pregnant women who tested positive. There have been 29 live births among those women and one stillbirth. Twenty-four infants were tested at birth, including one set of twins, and none tested positive for the virus. — KTLA
A DTLA hotel, which appears to be the L.A. Grand Hotel, has reopened as an 11-floor, 460-room temporary homeless shelter. The Salvation Army will supervise mental health and addiction services at the hotel for a 90-day program. “It gives them an opportunity to be in a comfortable place, off the streets, out of the elements,” said Major Osei Stewart, incident commander. “It gives them food to eat, three meals a day.” — CBS Los Angeles
Convicts at a Castaic Lake jail intentionally gave themselves coronavirus under the false assumption that it would help them flee the pokey. Not so fast, sneered the sheriff. “There was some mistaken belief among the inmate population that if they tested positive, there was a way to force our hand and somehow release more inmates out of our jail environment, and that’s not gonna happen,” said Sheriff Alex Villanueva. A total of 357 inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus, a 60% jump from May 4. — CBS Los Angeles
Tomorrow around 11:45 a.m. you will probably hear a very loud noise. The F-15C Eagle jets based in Fresno will take off at 10 a.m. and will fly over medical facilities in the San Joaquin Valley, Sacramento, the Bay Area, Southern California and parts of the Central Valley before returning to Fresno. This is a tribute to health care workers, first responders and others on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. — NBC Los Angeles
M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel, while in lockdown, covered the Beach Boys’ “Darlin'” from the band’s 1967 classic “Wild Honey” album:
A fifth construction worker at SoFi Stadium has tested positive for the coronavirus. Construction crews are racing to complete the stadium in Inglewood before August when the Rams and Chargers hope to play exhibition NFL games there. — NBC Sports
Speaking of Inglewood, the self-proclaimed City of Champions has one of the largest black populations in the county. Inglewood’s death rate from the virus is 34 per 100,000 residents. Meanwhile, in majority-white Glendale just 14 miles away, the death rate is 18 per 100,000 residents, according to the county’s dashboard data. Why does this virus kill African Americans at such a higher rate? — CalMatters
Nordstrom will reportedly close 16 of its locations due to the coronavirus pandemic — including those in Riverside and Montclair. But one Riverside city council member is hoping to convince the department store to stay open. “At least give us a second look, give us an opportunity to address their concerns,” Riverside City Council Member Jim Perry said. — CBS Los Angeles
Twitter, which has offices in L.A., has decided that its employees can work from home for as long as they want. Maybe forever. “We’ve been very thoughtful in how we’ve approached this from the time we were one of the first companies to move to a work-from-home model,” a Twitter spokesperson told BuzzFeed News. “We’ll continue to be, and we’ll continue to put the safety of our people and communities first.” — Buzzfeed News
CAA has informed its talent agents and staff not to expect to return to their Century City HQ until at least Aug. 1. — Variety
Jeffrey Katzenberg (sorta) blames the pandemic for the failure of the $1.8 billion short-form streaming app Quibi. “I attribute everything that has gone wrong to coronavirus,” he said. “Everything. But we own it.” — The Wrap
This really is tremendous. A drone’s-eye view of L.A.’s longest drive-thru lines. — EaterLA
The female-focused blog Jezebel was met with a predictable amount of outrage and condemnation after senior reporter Molly Osberg wrote a piece titled “I Will Personally Be Thrilled If Stephen Miller Dies of Covid-19.” Osberg argued that Miller, a Santa Monica native, “is the man who has spent his entire life pursuing the idea that America’s diversity is a disease.” Last week, his new bride, Katie, contracted the virus at the White House where she is the vice president’s press secretary. While Osberg wishes Katie a speedy recovery, she doubled down on the wicked wish, writing, “It’s okay to be mean to people who enjoy inflicting pain, and saying mean things about them is not ‘the same’ as being the cause of well-documented material suffering for an entire group of people.” — The Wrap
Americans who qualify for the $1,200 stimulus payment now have until noon on Wednesday, May 13, to get their money faster by submitting their direct deposit information on the Get My Payment site. — NBC Los Angeles
Monday, May 11, 2020
Coronavirus: California Cases and Deaths Rising Quicker than Expected
Masks are now required on busses, subways, airplanes, stores and even courtrooms.
The COVID-19 numbers as of today:
Los Angeles County: 31,677 confirmed cases, 1,530 deaths
Orange County: 3,502 cases, 76 deaths
Riverside County: 5,039 confirmed cases, 205 deaths
San Bernardino County: 2,902 cases, 114 deaths
Ventura County: 666 cases, 19 deaths
San Diego County: 4,926 cases, 175 deaths
— KABC
While California has avoided the grim death toll of coronavirus hot spots like New York, there are growing concerns that the state’s most populous regions have not yet seen the rapid decline in deaths and cases needed to significantly reopen the economy. Ours is one of a handful of states where coronavirus cases and deaths are rising faster than researchers expected, according to the latest calculations in a widely relied-upon model of the COVID-19 outbreak. — L.A. Times
Two brothers started a fight with security guards at the Target in Van Nuys after being escorted out for not wearing masks. A security guard had his arm broken while wrestling one of the men to the ground. — Fox 11 Los Angeles
Speaking of masks, if you want to get on a bus, subway or plane in and around L.A., you should wear a mask. They may also be required. Be prepared. — KTLA
More masks: At a Vons in Torrance, the store director told a would-be customer that he had to wear a mask to enter the store. The gentleman said he had a mask in his backpack. The manager said he needed to retrieve it and put it on. The man grew frustrated and said, “You know what, just forget it. You must be a Democrat!” — L.A. Times
A 78-year-old man in Riverside County, who spoke in support of rescinding the governor’s order on face coverings, said he wears a mask only when he’s around people who are afraid. “I’m not afraid. … People get old and they die,” he said. — L.A. Times
Wanna fight these mask orders in court? You’re gonna have to wear one there too, and when you do, expect to see everyone in there — including the judge — sporting a mask. — LAist
LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner proudly proclaimed that “just about every” student is now “connected” to learn at home. By that he means that the district has “confirmed they have a device that works, we’ve confirmed they have either internet access of their own or we’ve provided it at no cost to the student, and they’ve engaged in learning — meaning they’ve logged onto Schoology or some other platform being used for their school lessons.” — LAist
Although most hiking trails reopened this weekend, residents appeared to be cautious about returning outdoors. A “SoCal Connected” producer said about 10 cars were in the Temescal Canyon parking lot Saturday morning. Under normal conditions, the lot might have contained 50 cars by that time. — KCET
L.A. County beaches could reopen by Wednesday. Yay? The initial stage would reportedly allow beaches to open from sunrise to sunset but would not allow people to set up umbrellas or congregate in groups. — KABC
With its theme parks shuttered, movie releases postponed and sports programming scrambled by the COVID-19 crisis, The Walt Disney Co., the largest public company in L.A., has seen its fiscal second-quarter earnings tumble 63% across all divisions. — Los Angeles Business Journal
MLB desperately wants to return for the Fourth of July weekend. Proposals to make it happen include a universal designated hitter, profit sharing between owners and players and canceling the All-Star Game scheduled for Dodger Stadium. — USA Today
The County of Los Angeles is launching its own senior citizen meals initiative called the Great Plates Delivered plan. This regionally-specific plan will pay restaurants directly to provide three meals per day to qualifying seniors across the county. — EaterLA
Sixty-five percent of women said they would not feel safe trying on clothes in dressing rooms due to COVID-19, according to a survey by First Insight. The firm fielded 1,066 responses from consumers on April 30. Meanwhile, 54% of men said they would not feel safe using dressing rooms. Sixty-six percent of women, and 54% of men, said they would not feel comfortable working with sales associates in retail stores. — NBC Los Angeles
Delta Air Lines says it plans to temporarily suspend service until at least September at 10 U.S. airports, including Long Beach and Burbank, while customer traffic is low due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will still fly in and out of LAX. — NBC Los Angeles