Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Morning Briefing: Back To The Beach
()
Never miss a morning briefing. Subscribe today to get our A.M. newsletter delivered to your inbox.
SoCal’s beaches have, in recent weeks, become something of a battleground in the case for re-opening. There were the crowds that descended on beaches in OC, followed by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s official shutdown of said beaches, followed by protests, followed by another re-opening.
But this weekend, our sandy coasts appeared to be heading back to their natural state of relative calm. In Venice and Santa Monica, which reopened last week, crowds were spread out enough to allow for social distancing -- although some folks broke the “no sunbathing” rule. And In Manhattan Beach, the mayor was optimistic about officials’ “education-first” strategy with regards to visitors.
Maybe we’re ready for baby steps after all. Good job, L.A.
Support for LAist comes from
Keep reading for more on what’s happening today, and stay safe out there.
Coming Up Today, May 18
It's the holy month of Ramadan and this year, reports Elina Shatkin, everything is different — especially iftar, the meal Muslims use to break their daily fast.
The gang from Community reunites for a good cause, the Hola Mexico Film Festival screens new flicks, OCMA holds a 24-hour video art festival, and more. Christine N. Ziemba has this week’s quarantine-approved events.
Never miss an LAist story. Sign up for our daily newsletters.
Support for LAist comes from
The Past 48 Hours In LA
L.A., California, The World: There are now 38,001 coronavirus cases and 1,821 deaths in L.A. County, plus at least 78,818 cases and 3,208 deaths in California. Worldwide, there are more than 4.7 million cases and over 315,000 deaths.
Life’s A (Confusing) Beach: L.A.’s beaches are open again, but officials are giving mixed messages about biking near the sand. Photos showed minimal crowding in Venice and Santa Monica, and Manhattan Beach’s mayor said that rule-breaking weekend beachgoers seemed to at least be practicing social distancing.
Open, Close: Descanso Gardens is reopening. The L.A. County fair, scheduled for September, is canceled for the first time since WWII. Meanwhile, you won't have to move your car for alternate street parking until at least June 1.
California Kids: The College Board fixed a glitch that left some students unable to submit their AP exams.
Fire In DTLA: A massive fire, followed by an explosion, took place at a downtown L.A. smoke accessories warehouse. Local officials said they may call on federal help for their probe into the incident.
Support for LAist comes from
COVID-19 In The Courts: Arguing that many inmates held at the Terminal Island and Lompoc federal prisons are low-risk offenders at high risk from COVID-19, the ACLU of Southern California is suing to seek a significant increase in prisoner releases. Both facilities have had massive coronavirus outbreaks.
Final Goodbyes: Independent film and TV director Lynn Shelton (Little Fires Everywhere, Humpday, Glow) died on Friday from a blood disorder at the age of 54. Her partner, comedian and actor Marc Maron, said the condition was previously unknown.
Your Moment Of Zen
Surfing is movement, surfing is freedom, I've never surfed but it sure looks like the opposite of being stuck at home.
(Mark J. Terrill/AP)
()
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
Support for LAist comes from
Help Us Cover Your Community
- Got something you’ve always wanted to know about Southern California and the people who call it home? Is there an issue you want us to cover? Ask us anything.
- Have a tip about news on which we should dig deeper? Let us know.
The news cycle moves fast. Some stories don't pan out. Others get added. Consider this today's first draft, and check LAist.com for updates on these stories and more. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS
Get our daily newsletters for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines.
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist