Morning Briefing: Recapping Day One of 'Safer At Home. How You Doin'?

During the first day of California’s “stay at home” mandate, Angelenos stared deep into the soul of our reality for the next four weeks (at least). It was… weird.

The good news? The government appears to be keeping pace — or trying to — with the community’s concerns.

Payments on student loans are being suspended without penalties, and co-pays for the COVID-19 test will be waived. Tax day isn’t until July 15 (but you can file early if you want, whoever you people are). And many public and private organizations are offering funds, food and more to those who have been hit hardest by the virus.

Day 1 is in the books. Now, to make sure you’re caught up...

Here’s what happened in the past 24 hours:

• Here’s what you can and can’t do under the new “stay at home” order.
• L.A. Metro is staying open, but cutting services; for Chinatown restaurants, “every day has been bad”; LAUSD gave out almost 250,000 meals to students yesterday; and L.A. officials are asking schools to stay closed until May 5. Gulp.
• The tax filing deadline has been extended until July 15.
• Some community health clinics are moving to telemedicine.
• In his Friday briefing, President Trump announced the suspension of travel between the U.S. and its two neighbors: Mexico and Canada. He also noted that standardized testing in schools would not be conducted.
• California officials waived copays for COVID-19 testing, and extended the open enrollment period for all health care plans to June 30.
• In his column, Mis Ángeles, Erick Galindo examines the plight of L.A.’s beloved sidewalk eateries:

• We’ve compiled a list of where to get financial assistance — including grants, loans, and cash gifts — as well as food, medicine, and more.
• For students concerned about their financial aid, follow these guidelines

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Support our free, independent journalism today. Donate now.And here’s some light reading for the weekend — a few of L.A.’s unsung restaurants, and some old-fashioned noshing at one of our most famous haunts.

• Cesar Hernandez’ love letter to Chico’s Pizza Parlor, the Lynwood pizzeria that raised him.
• Lori Galarreta comes to the defense of Koreatown’s weird, wacky, misunderstood KFC.
• Hadley Meares explores the wild and strange flavors of Musso And Frank’s old-timey-est dishes.

Your moment of Zen:

Social distancing at sea. (At least, we're pretty sure they're six feet apart.) Surfers ride a wave at Venice Beach on the first day L.A. County residents were under "safer at home" orders.

(Frederic J. Brown / AFP)

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