Free Republic

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) announced it will end its indoor mask mandate for students and staff by March 23 after a week of negotiating an existing contract with its teachers’ union. “Los Angeles Unified is pleased to announce that we have reached agreement with labor groups to align with the guidance from the State of California and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to make masking strongly recommended,” the district said in a March 18 statement. A March 18 agreement between the school district and the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) includes a requirement...

Firefighters in Silicon Valley were sent out to enforce statewide business restrictions as the state faced a Thanksgiving shadowed by an out-of-control coronavirus surge and health officials begged people to avoid large family gatherings that could become “superspreader” events. Black Friday sales that typically draw enormous crowds also are in the spotlight. The holiday season leading into Christmas can account for a large chunk of store profits. But stores must follow COVID-19 safety orders such as requiring employees and customers to wear masks and observe social distancing, health officers warned. Compliance officers were to fan out throughout the county starting...

The mayor of Los Angeles has vowed to cut $150million from the city's police budget and give it to communities of color. ... In addition to the sizable redirection of funds, Garcetti told reporter officers will be required to report misconduct going forward and to intervene when witnessing displays of excessive force. By July, he said, a LA Department of Civil and Human Rights and an Office of Racial Equality will be up and running.

STUDIO CITY (CBSLA.com) — Authorities on Monday investigated widespread reports of a foul odor detected across the San Fernando Valley. Shortly after 5:00 a.m., a “rotten egg-type” smell was reported “widely across (and possibly beyond) the north San Fernando Valley and Foothill communities of Los Angeles”, according to Brian Humphrey with the Los Angeles Fire Department. No illnesses or any specific hazard has been associated with the odor, Humphrey told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO. The sulfur-type odor — which Humphrey said “appears to be organic in nature” — had been reported as far west as Simi Valley and as far east...

With more than 40 percent of Los Angeles residents having come from foreign countries, the city on Tuesday created an Office of Immigrant Affairs to help newcomers adjust to their new home. The City Council voted unanimously to create the office under Mayor James Hahn's jurisdiction. The office will be staffed with two employees who will help put immigrants in contact with existing community service and support organizations. The $125,000 cost to operate the office will be covered by federal grants during the first year and included as part of the mayor's operating budget in future years. "This is not...