Morning Briefing: Remembering Nipsey Hussle

Yesterday marked one year since the death of L.A. rapper and philanthropist Nipsey Hussle, who was shot outside his South L.A. clothing store at the age of 33. On the day of his funeral, crowds poured out onto the street for miles to mourn him, images of which are at once a reminder of both the strange moment in which we currently find ourselves, and how vital voices like Hussle’s are — voices that bring the community together, speak honestly and radically about life in L.A., and preach hard work, diligence and love during difficult times.

Here’s what happened in the past 24 hours:

• Ten more people have died from COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, one of whom is thought to be the first local health care worker to succumb to the disease. There are now more than 3,000 cases in the county, and over 855,000 worldwide.
• News is considered an essential job under the stay-at-home orders, so KPCC+LAist visual journalist Chava Sanchez ventured out to document what it looks like when most of L.A. stays home. Watch his poignant video.
• After seeing our story about Presley Wilson, a single mother afraid to lose her home during the pandemic, an LAist reader contacted Wilson and offered to pay her rent, utilities and late fees.
• Since we're all responsibly cooped up in the dreary present, rediscovering the wonders of beans, yeast and frozen pizzas, let's take a trip into Los Angeles's scrumptious, sauce-heavy past.
• Child care providers in California must balance the needs of families with the health and safety of workers and children. Meanwhile, L.A County has issued some guidelines.
• While most of their in-person customers stay away, small businesses in Los Angeles are coming up with creative measures to stay afloat. Small farms, however, are worried about yesterday’s closure of farmer’s markets.
• LAUSD is reaching out to parents and caregivers to ensure that all kids have laptops. For those who would like to request one, a hotline has been set up.
• The L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a motion directing the Department of Public Health to create a set of guidelines that would allow restaurants to keep selling unprepared foods like eggs, meat, milk, beans, rice and the like, under certain situations. When you’re shopping in a typical grocery store, here’s how to minimize your risk.
• Last week, we spoke with Dr. Larry Stock, an ER physician at Antelope Valley Hospital, about how his department is preparing for the expected surge in COVID-19 patients. We checked in with him again this week.
• When John Blake heard Gov. Gavin Newsom's urgent call for people with health backgrounds to help address the surge in COVID-19 patients, the Long Beach-based dentist was quick to sign up.
• The COVID-19 outbreak is changing our religious and cultural rituals of death.
• Some community college faculty members are calling for the dismantling of Calbright College — the state’s first fully online college — in order to divert those funds for training in online instruction to other colleges who have had to make an abrupt shift to online learning.

Here’s what we’re covering today:

• About a third of California households have filled out the census, and L.A. County is only slightly behind. But if you look at individual census tracts, reports Caroline Champlin, participation is segregated.
• Testing for coronavirus in L.A. has predominantly taken place in wealthy neighborhoods. Alyssa Jeong Perry explores what that tells us about access to testing and the spread of the virus.
• UCLA and other UC medical schools say they will make it easier for fourth year students who have completed their requirements to graduate early in some cases, reports Josie Huang.
• There have been several reported incidents of Asian children being bullied. Huang takes a closer look.

Here are some non-COVID-19 reads:

• The state’s risk of extreme fire weather days is now forecast to be more than triple by the end of the century.
• Remembering Nipsey Hussle, one year after his death, through the sounds of his memorial.
• Kirk Scroggs, an L.A.-based kids' book author and illustrator, tells us the secrets to his success.

And now, your moment of Zen:

A stunning cotton candy sunset on a Tuesday evening, captured by our own investigative reporter Aaron Mendelson.

(Aaron Mendelson / LAist)

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The news cycle moves fast. Some stories don't pan out. Others get added. Consider this today's first draft.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS:

• Your No-Panic Guide To Coronavirus In LA So Far
• Where To Get Financial Assistance, Food And Other Help
• Tracking The Spread Of COVID-19
• Have A Question? We Will Answer It

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