» The L.A. City Council is calling for tougher enforcement of the city’s mask mandate. Going without a mask can, technically, result in a $1,000 fine or six months in jail, but so far the rule has rarely been enforced. [Los Angeles Times]
» A vacant building near the Venice boardwalk burned on Wednesday. The structure was consumed by a large fire that started in the morning and sent thick smoke drifting over the area. [NBC Los Angeles]
» Walmart is temporarily closing three more stores for sanitization in connection with COVID-19 cases. The chain has had workplace outbreaks at several locations throughout the region. [CBS Los Angeles]
» Some studios are resuming film production in L.A. CBS, Netflix, and ABC are all said to have shows that have gone back to work, despite the surge. [Hollywood Reporter]
» The Santa Monica Pier will now close on weekends, including for the upcoming Martin Luther King day holiday. The closure is an effort to discourage crowds gathering and spreading disease. [Los Angeles Times]
TOP STORIES FROM L.A. MAG
» California Authorizes COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution to All Residents 65 and Over A notification system to alert everyone else when their turn arrives is also in the works
» A Whittier City Councilmember’s Presence in D.C. Last Week Angers Constituents Thousands have signed a petition for Jessica Martinez to be removed from office
» ‘Freedom Rally’ Organizer Promises More Anti-Mask Stampedes in L.A. The maskless MAGA hordes that have stormed local grocery stores and malls aren’t done with their anti-science campaign
ONE MORE THING
JOSH SCHAEDEL
The Best Bev for Our Anxiety Addled Times? A Good Cup of Tea
Face it: Drinking copious amounts of wine isn’t really helping you relax.
Sipping tea is a healthier alternative, and the eighteenth-century ritual known as gong fu cha lends ceremony to the practice. It’s traditionally a complicated, 21-step affair, but newer companies like Steep L.A. and Three Gems Tea are simplifying and modernizing the process for a younger generation.
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