Morning Briefing: Gen Z Delivers Hope For Us All (...Per Usual)

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The notion of generational bad blood has been a hot topic for years now; according to reports, Millennials and Boomers hate each other, Gen Z and Boomers hate each other and Gen X hates everyone. But the truth is, most of us actually care about each other, and, you know, want one another to be well.

So let’s focus on this: A Santa Barbara teenager, noticing that his 65-and-over neighbors could use a hand during the pandemic, created Zoomers to Boomers, in which Gen Z kids bring groceries and food to older folks. Marlborough School 11th grader Mira Kwon recently launched the budding organization's L.A. branch.

And they’re not the only ones; a 58-year-old in Ojai is shopping for seniors too, after his wine bar closed down. Artists are creating new work specifically for online viewing. And frontline health care workers are putting their own safety on the line to care for the unhoused as well as people flooding the ER.

There’s hope for the future, after all. (Crazy kids.)

COMING UP TODAY, APRIL 10

People are suddenly interested in growing their own food. Elina Shatkin explores what they should plant, what does well here in SoCal and what new backyard farmers need to know.

Erick Galindo takes a drive-through coronavirus test, along with about 100 others in a South L.A. parking lot. Galindo, whose symptoms had a doctor telling him to self-quarantine, also talks to DACA recipients who are working through coronavirus and helping support family members while knowing SCOTUS could soon issue a decision to end their status.

Libby Denkmann examines the new reality for campaigns – a world in which there’s no hand-shaking or baby kissing allowed. Candidates and political consultants tell her how they’re adapting.

Hadley Meares looks at how L.A. repurposed various buildings and locations to use as hospitals and other vital institutions during the influenza epidemic of 1918.

Alyssa Jeong Perry speaks to a frontline health worker caring for homeless people during the coronavirus pandemic.

L.A.-based rock outfit Chicano Batman represents a wide range of musical styles, from ranchera music to oldies to West Coast hip hop. They sat down with Jonathan Shifflett.

Leo Duran talks with Annelisa Stephan of The Getty Center, about their social media phenomenon of asking people to recreate their artwork using things around the house.

L.A. County and USC have launched a pilot antibody study. Robert Garrova has the details.

Arab-American advocates had to change their census messaging for the Trump era, reports. Caroline Champlin.

DIY a mask. In case you missed it during our live event this week, Elizabeth Robinson is going to break down all the steps infrastructure reporter Sharon McNary walked viewers through to make some simple homemade face coverings.

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THE PAST 24 HOURS IN L.A.

L.A., California, The World: There are more than 7,900 cases of coronavirus in L.A. County. In California, there are 18,309 cases. The worldwide number of cases is at nearly 1.6 million.

Seeking Justice: More than 1,400 and counting; that’s how many anti-Asian incidents have already been reported to an online tracking tool that’s only been up and running for weeks. Meanwhile, courtrooms in L.A. are pivoting to remote proceedings.

Diary From The Frontlines: “The admission rate is just skyrocketing” said an ER doctor working in downtown L.A., “and the [people] that need to be admitted to a higher level of care… is increasing by the day.” Dozens of patients at a Riverside County nursing home had to be evacuated after staff failed to show up for two days. LAFD is using telehealth to reduce non-emergency hospital trips during the coronavirus pandemic, and child care workers are asked to prioritize at-risk children.

New School: A group of L.A. high school students is delivering groceries to seniors and other high-risk neighbors through Zoomers to Boomers, a free delivery service created by a Santa Barbara teenager. Long Beach Unified School Board members have selected veteran educator Jill Baker as the school system’s next superintendent. No LAUSD students will receive a lower overall grade than they had in March.

California Makes Progress: As of one month ago, California had 7,587 ventilators identified in the state's resources. That number is now up to 11,747. L.A. County residents can apply online to get approved for a coronavirus test.

Money Talks: Investigative reporter Aaron Mendelson and attorney Javier Beltran answered questions in a live Q&A about paying rent. More than two million Californians have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus, but many frustrated freelancers are still waiting to file. Since mid-March, 58-year-old Nigel Chisholm of Ojai has been offering to grocery shop for high-risk residents.

New Day, New Rules: If you live in the city of L.A., you are now required to cover your face any time you go to any store or take a cab or rideshare. One silver lining from Mayor Eric Garcetti’s news briefing last night? Adoptions of shelter pets are “off the charts.”

We Like To Watch (And Listen): Want some scary listening? Here are six killer crime novels, recommended by John Horn, host of The Frame. Also, from the comfort and relative safety of your couch, watch the Coachella documentary, Phoebe Waller-Bridge's solo stage show of Fleabag and more.

IN NON-COVID-19 NEWS

A closer look at why a California appeals court dismissed the criminal case against the leader of the Mexico-based religious group known as La Luz Del Mundo, or the Light of the World Church.

YOUR MOMENT OF ZEN

Beautiful blue lights lit up the Forum in Inglewood last night, among the landmarks and buildings around the nation honoring health care workers on the front lines of the pandemic.

Rich Fury/Getty Images)

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