With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Morning Briefing: Local Calm, Federal Confusion
It's a quiet weekend locally, as much of L.A. adjusts to new recommendations to wear homemade face masks when going out. On the federal front, though, President Donald Trump made remarks that surprised some experts during his daily briefing — including suggesting that he "might take" hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug that hasn’t been approved by the FDA for the virus.
THE PAST 24 HOURS:
L.A., California, The World: The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Saturday confirmed 711 new cases of the coronavirus and 28 new deaths, which did not include the first two reported in Pasadena. That brings county totals to 5,325 cases and 119 deaths. The U.S. is reporting 290,000 cases, and the worldwide count has surpassed 1.1 million.
Community: The YMCA will soon open nine of their locations for people experiencing homelessness to use for showers and restrooms.
Sports: Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant is among nine new members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Gov. Gaving Newsom said he doesn’t anticipate the NFL season starting on time this fall (note: this question came up because Trump has been actively talking to the heads of all major sports about when they can go back to work.)
Federal Updates: The federal government unveiled the first detailed national system for tracking the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. During a White House press briefing, President Donald Trump said that he “might take” hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug that hasn’t been approved by the FDA for the virus.
Fact check: Another week of White House news briefings has come and gone. Here's a reality check on the president's statements.
YOUR (MUCH-NEEDED) MOMENT OF ZEN:
A tree —decorated with Chinese lanterns — blooms tree is at the closed Thien Hau Temple in the L.A's Chinatown neighborhood.

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.
DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS
Get our daily newsletter for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines.
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Support our free, independent journalism today. Donate now.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember.
-
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain.
-
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings.
-
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past.
-
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.