Morning Briefing: Farmer’s Markets And See’s Candies Take Hits

Closures and changes from the coronavirus keep rolling in; it’s only Tuesday, and we’ve already heard about another month of social distancing (at least), much stricter regulations for L.A. farmer’s markets and See’s candies putting the brakes on some of their delicious products. Monday also marked a few firsts when it comes to new communities the virus has reached; the first inmate in an L.A. County jail, and the first LAUSD employee.

It seemed like a good time, then, to revisit this story from 2018, about a Pico-Union food bank that operates like a grocery store. World Harvest was opened by Glen Curado in 2007 after a vision came to him in a dream, and it's a good reminder that community generosity has always been there – it doesn't take a pandemic to bring it out.

Here's what customer Adeshawa Sanusi told Elina Shatkin about her visits:

• There are now nearly 2,500 cases of coronavirus in Los Angeles County, and seven more people have died from the virus, bringing the total number of deaths countywide to 44. There are over 780,000 cases worldwide.
• L.A. activists are pushing city officials to extend the eviction moratorium to cover all Angelenos – not just those facing hardship because of wages lost due to COVID-19 – so no one is forced out of their home while the pandemic is raging.
• Leaders of some local community colleges worry that the changes in learning brought about by the coronavirus will push students out.
• LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner confirmed the “first known diagnosis of a Los Angeles Unified employee having COVID-19,” and the Pasadena Unified School District has temporarily suspended free “grab-and-go” meal distribution because of a report that a kitchen employee may have contracted coronavirus.
• An inmate at an LA. County jail tested positive for coronavirus, and is isolated in stable condition.
• All farmers markets in Los Angeles will be suspended until they can show the city they have a plan to enforce safe social distancing among their patrons.
• If you think Southern California’s air quality seems crazy good right now, you’re right – and here’s why.
• Nate n’ Al’s closed, See’s candies stopped making some of its treats and Instacart employees are on strike. Here's all the SoCal food news from the past few days that's fit to print.
• California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced what his office described as "a major initiative to surge California‘s health care workforce.”
• President Donald Trump warned Americans to expect at least another month of social distancing.
• While we're all stuck at home, comedians and comedy troupes are turning to the internet and social media to cheer up audiences and, in some cases, raise funds.
• The psychological toll of the COVID-19 pandemic can be especially hard for people living with a mental illness.

Here’s what we’re covering today:

• The first installment of Elly Yu’s new series, “What I Saw,” which brings behind-the-scenes stories from L.A.’s medical workers.
• The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are starting to ripple through an already taxed mental health care system, reports Robert Garrova – including board and care facilities.
• With social distancing rules prohibiting large gatherings, Sharon McNary explores how people are holding funerals, and how religious traditions are being adapted.
• Elina Shatkin brings you L.A.s’ classic recipes for your quarantine cooking needs, what we do and don't know about the transmission of coronavirus via food and everything you should do to minimize your risk from grocery shopping.
• Head Starts, preschools, and transitional kindergartens are closed and teachers are trying to translate their lessons to a variety of digital apps, reports Mariana Dale.
• Some faculty members at community colleges say that the online Calbright College – already the subject of controversy – should be closed and money diverted to online efforts at regular campuses, reports Adolfo Guzman-Lopez.
• A new study shows that extreme fire weather days in the fall could triple, reports Jacob Margolis, likely caused by climate change.
• Jackie Fortiér has the story of a dentist from Long Beach who is heeding Gov. Gavin Newsom's call to join the Medical Corps to help handle the expected surge in coronavirus patients.

Here are some non-COVID-19 reads:

• Lonnie Franklin Jr., the convicted serial killer known as the “Grim Sleeper,” was found dead in his prison cell.
• Take a look inside World Harvest, the L.A. food bank that works like a grocery store.
• The story of how a former talent agent made Wally Amos’ chocolate chip cookies so very famous.

And now, your moment of Zen:

KPCC+LAist's executive editor Megan Garvey came across this drawing on her daily walk, and it made us all smile:

Chalk drawing on a sidewalk during the coronavirus outbreak. (Megan Garvey/LAist)

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The news cycle moves fast. Some stories don't pan out. Others get added. Consider this today's first draft.