Morning Brief: LA Heat Wave, Indoor Mask Requirements, And Theater’s Vital Role

Good morning, L.A. It’s April 6.

Climate change is top of mind for many of us right now, and for good reason. And as we know, a direct result of those atmospheric alterations is the extreme weather fluctuation we’re seeing in L.A.

After a week of lovely, cool weather with a sprinkling of rain, temperatures are expected to spike significantly starting today. 

My colleague Nate Perez reports that the beach areas are looking at highs in the upper 80s, downtown L.A. could see the mid-90s, and parts of the San Fernando Valley might reach a whopping 100 degrees.

David Sweet, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, said these temperatures are unusually high for this time of year.

"For Burbank, for instance, the normal high temperature would be 71 degrees," said Sweet. "So we're looking at something like 20 to 25 degrees above normal."

These record-breaking highs are becoming a trend. Last month, Camarillo hit 90 degrees and Oxnard climbed to 89, eclipsing 2008 records when both Ventura County cities hit 88 degrees.

Heatwaves like this often mean an increased wildfire risk, but Sweet said last week's rains will help mitigate this issue. With that said, extreme heat isn’t great for California’s ongoing drought, which Gov. Gavin Newsom recently rolled out new measures to combat.

Experts say the heat will subside by the weekend, so basically, just keep your sweaters and boots out next to your flip-flops and tanks.

Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A., and stay safe out there.

What Else You Need To Know Today

• L.A. County’s lack of a vigorous housing inspection program has left people trapped in terrible housing, with little accountability for landlords. That could soon change.
• SoCal grocery store workers have reached a tentative agreement with their bosses at Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions.
• Police in Sacramento have arrested a second man in connection with a weekend shooting that killed six people and wounded 12 others. 
• Indoor events in California with 1,000 or more people are no longer required to ask patrons for proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. 
• Many workers in California who don’t have documentation put themselves at risk working during the pandemic. Lawmakers want to pay them unemployment benefits.
• The U.S. Supreme Court made it easier to sue police and prosecutors for malicious prosecution.
• Federal health officials are convening with outside advisers today to talk about a vaccine plan moving into the summer.

Before You Go ... Tim Robbins On Live Theater's 'Energy Transfer'

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Ashley Randell

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Courtesy of The Actors Gang

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Tim Robbins is the Artistic Director of The Actors Gang Theater in Culver City, which just reopened for live performances after being shuttered for the past two years. Speaking to Larry Mantle on AirTalk, our newsroom’s public affairs show, he emphasized the importance of community and gathering. 

“Here's what's great about theater,” he said. “There's some profound experiences you can have seeing a film or watching a streaming piece of entertainment. But it's those live experiences that you remember for your life.”