Morning Briefing: Is Going To Church Worth The Risk?

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How is it already almost the end of May? So much has happened, 2019 feels like five years ago. I don't know about you, but by the end of each day my brain is 99% broken.

It's hard to keep up with all the changes, even for those of us who read news for a living. Thankfully, we have a guide for that, which I find myself referring to often. Human beings are super adaptable creatures, but as normal life starts to resume, some of us will be slower than others to embrace the uncertainty.

Part of the confusion stems from the fact that as more things reopen, officials are still urging people to stay at home as much as possible. So, the message is: stay at home unless you urgently need to go out for essential items. But, also, if you urgently want to go to the beach or the park or trails for non-essential activities (or to church, which may or may not be essential), that's cool with us.

If you sit down on the sand, though, we will publicly shame you (and the shamers are watching).

We asked Garcetti how Angelenos should evaluate risk this past weekend and he basically said: you do you. If you want to take a risk, do it. If not, turn off social media because FOMO is back in business.

Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A. today

– Gina Pollack

Coming Up Today, May 26

Emily Elena Dugdale writes about a new study that found broad support for transgender troops among active-duty personnel.

The Past 24 Hours In LA

Memorial Day Report Card: Across the county, the vast majority of people wore masks and observed social distancing over the Memorial Day weekend, with one big exception: Eaton Canyon. So many people flooded the popular trail, some jumping over fences, that officials had to shut it down. Hermosa Beach's reopening of the Strand went more smoothly.

A Long, Hot Summer: We're bracing ourselves for another heat wave this week. But cooling off in a pool might not be the best option right now...unless you're lucky enough to have one in your backyard. Even though the virus doesn't spread in water, it does spread through people in water.

Mental Health With A Side Of Rice: For a lot of Asian immigrants, especially seniors, it can be hard to cook with foreign food, even when times are tough. A few organizations banded together to help bring them some more familiar items, like ramen and rice. Also, over a thousand social workers, psychiatrists and counselors volunteered to give pro-bono mental health relief to frontline medical workers.

Down, Up, Down: Violent crime is down, but car thefts are up. Home sales have tanked. And state prisons will continue to accept new inmates, even after over 700 men and women tested postive at facilities in Corona and Chino.

Let's Get Spiritual: Forest Lawn made their Memorial Day celebration virtual and you can still watch it if you need a patriotic pick-me-up. Churches and other places of worship got the green light from the state of California to reopen, pending county approval. State health officials suggest increasing ventilation and skipping group hymns. Retailers across the state can also resume in-store shopping. But don't run to the mall: stores will need permission from the county, too.

Your Moment Of Zen

A bunch of musicians in Echo Park played taps from their balconies in honor of Memorial Day. Associate Editor Lisa Brenner's husband contributed some trumpet tunes.

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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.