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Morning Briefing: Latino/as Hit Hardest By COVID Economic Toll
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According to a new report, the Latino/a community isn’t just being hit harder by the disease caused by the pandemic than other communities, they’re also being hit harder financially by the coronavirus’ economic toll.
Researchers found that a full 71% of households in L.A.’s Latino/a community reported serious financial problems since the pandemic began. Jackie Fortiér notes that the community is at risk in part due to being frequently underpaid for their labor to begin with.
“The reward that Latinos have for their high work ethic is a high rate of poverty,” David Hayes-Bautista, a professor of medicine at UCLA, told Fortiér.
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Additionally, Latino/as are more likely to hold essential jobs, such as in nursing homes that don’t provide health insurance and at the same time expose workers to a greater risk of contracting the virus.
"Latinos between 50 and 69, those are the ones that are being hit the hardest,” said Hayes-Bautista. “That's pretty worrying."
Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A. today, and stay safe out there.
Coming Up Today, September 15
The California chapter of the NAACP is backing Prop 15, an endorsement that sends mixed messages to the Black community. David Wagner reports.
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The Past 24 Hours In LA
California Kids: Teachers varied widely in how they administered grades after SoCal districts suspended their grading policies last spring. After nearly one month of trials and practice runs, Los Angeles public school officials have announced they’re ready to start testing the district’s students and staff members for COVID-19.
Wildfires: The Bobcat Fire has burned 36,366 acres in the Angeles National Forest, with 6% containment. The El Dorado Fire has burned 14,478 acres in the San Bernardino Mountains, and is at 44% containment.
Money Matters: The coronavirus is affecting the financial health of the Latino/a community at a much higher rate than other races and ethnic groups. Many actors, directors, backstage workers and others in the entertainment industry are eligible for health coverage through their unions, but coverage is determined by past employment – and the coronavirus has made that nearly impossible for most.
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Here’s What To Do: Celebrate Mexican Independence Day with "El Grito" online, catch a rooftop screening of a doc about designer Pierre Cardin, soak up Shakespeare's classic works transformed for virtual viewing during a pandemic, and more in this week’s best online and IRL events.
Photo Of The Day
People watch as the Bobcat Fire burns on hillsides behind homes in Arcadia.
(Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP via Getty Images)
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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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This post has been updated to reflect changes in what's coming up for today.
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