Morning Brief: LA Vaccine Mandate Vote, Help For Tiki-Ti, And A Very Old Star

Good morning, L.A. It’s March 31.

Pretty soon, you might not have to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to enter indoor public businesses. Yesterday, the L.A. City Council voted to drop the indoor vaccine mandate, following in the footsteps of other major cities across the country. 

Businesses would still reserve the right to check for proof of vaccination at their own discretion. Also, if you plan to attend an indoor event with 1,000 people or more, you’d be required to pack your vax card.

The current vaccine mandate has been in place since Nov. 8, when the L.A. City Council voted to require everyone aged 12 and up to show proof of vaccination before being allowed into restaurants, bars, gyms, and other businesses. Now, as the omicron wave recedes, officials are making clear that they think the risk of contagion is vastly reduced.

And that message is coming from lawmakers nationwide. In February, Boston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Seattle, Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul lifted indoor vaccine requirements or announced upcoming end dates. San Francisco and New York City soon followed suit.

L.A.’s decision comes as COVID-19 continues to decline in the region, even as BA.2, the virus’s latest variant, is spreading throughout the county and country. Yesterday, 587 new coronavirus cases were reported in L.A. County, down from 714 one week ago.

Nearly 7.3 million Angelenos are fully vaccinated, according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health.

The ordinance will now go to Mayor Eric Garcetti’s desk. If he signs it, the new rules will take effect as soon as it’s posted by the City Clerk’s office. 

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

What Else You Need To Know Today

• One year after a plan was announced with a clear timeline to close L.A. County’s Men’s Central Jail, , activists rallied, saying little to nothing has been accomplished so far.
• Legacy L.A. businesses like Canter’s Delicatessen and Tiki-Ti may soon be eligible for city-sponsored grants to ensure their survival.
• California’s task force to identify reparations for African Americans voted to limit eligibility to people who can trace their lineage to enslaved people.
• Leslie Van Houten, who was convicted of murder for the stabbing death of Rosemary LaBianca during the Manson Family's 1969 killing spree, has again been rejected for parole.
• Children from Georgia to California often face long waits — in many cases, more than a year — to get an autism diagnosis and receive specialized treatment services.  
• Two years in, Black people in the U.S. still face wide health, economic and social disparities when it comes to the impact of the pandemic. 
• Bruce Willis is stepping away from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, which affects cognitive abilities.

Before You Go ... Scientists Discover The Oldest Star They've Seen Yet

This image of a star was taken as part of the evaluation process as the James Webb Space Telescope's mirror segments were carefully aligned.

(NASA/STScI)

History buffs, take note: Scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope have spotted light from what appears to be the most distant star ever seen, appearing to researchers as it did when its journey began — 12.9 billion years ago.

Travel back in time to read about it here.