Morning Briefing: Home For The Holidays

Good morning, L.A.

California is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases, and it comes at a troubling moment; just before the holidays, when the urge to get together with family and friends (and travel to visit them) is among the strongest.

Still, state officials are recommending that we keep our holiday celebrations short, outside and with no more than two other households, at most. They’ve also recommended that Californians avoid travelling out of state, and that anyone coming here should self-quarantine for 14 days.

All of the state’s COVID-19-related statistics are going up; the 14-day positivity rate, the hospitalization rate, and the ICU hospitalization rate.

"Cases are on the rise here in California, and we are concerned," said California Health Secretary, Dr. Mark Ghaly. "As I say to my patients often, when I'm worried, ‘I'll tell you so you can worry with me’ — and we're there."

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

– Jessica P. Ogilvie

The Past 24 Hours In LA

Race In L.A.: “For Us, By Us” is a new section of our Racism 101 project, which seeks to provide resources for both people of color and those learning how to be better allies. An Indian American born and raised in Southern California reflects on a lifetime of perpetual foreignness, and what a Harris vice presidency means for her daughters.

The Biden Administration: Now that Joe Biden has won the presidential election, we check in with DACA recipients, who’ve experienced quite a roller coaster ride. These are some of the Southern Californians who’ve been invited to serve on Biden’s transition team.

Election 2020: As election officials continue counting ballots, Los Angeles County turnout is nearing 4.3 million, or 75% of registered voters. Young Kim has flipped the 39th Congressional District back to red, defeating Democratic incumbent Gil Cisneros.

California Politics: California Congressman Adam Schiff, who represents the 28th District, says Democrats still have a lot of work to do. The search is on for Kamala Harris’ replacement in the Senate, and many Angelenos would like to see another woman of color get the job.

Weekend Reads

There's a lot going on in the world right now, and it’s hard enough to keep up with our day-to-day lives, let alone to stay current on the news. But if you have some time this weekend, these articles provide much-needed insight into the current moment in L.A., as well as some news you may have missed:

A pop-up gallery

featuring the work of contemporary Black artists is currently on exhibition at the Beverly Center. (We Like LA)

Azjah

, a 25-year-old rapper who hails from Compton, is poised to become the city’s next big female artist. (The LAnd)

Some small California towns

are seeing a backlash against Black Lives Matter efforts. (KTLA)

The city of San Gabriel

has created a commission to address social equity. (San Gabriel Valley Tribune)

An Armenian American woman

from L.A. tells her experience of the violent clash happening in Armenia and Azerbaijan: “Violence is the constant in our histories…of why we are displaced and dispossessed, to begin with. ” (L.A. Taco)

A writer wonders

if President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will finally address Hollywood’s hypocrisy when it comes to diversity. ( THR)

White Memorial Medical Center

is facing a racial discrimination lawsuit. (LA Sentinel)

Photo of the Day

Posters plastered around L.A. show a healthcare worker as a healer, and others wearing masks.

Help Us Cover Your Community

• Got something you’ve always wanted to know about Southern California and the people who call it home? Is there an issue you want us to cover? Ask us anything.
• Have a tip about news on which we should dig deeper? Let us know.

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.

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