Good morning, SoCal. Here's what you need to know today.
Your Weather Planner
If you live along the coast and haven't been to the Inland Empire or the valleys lately, be prepared — it's going to be hot.
There's nothing too unusual about that in the summer, but temperatures are running a few degrees above average.
A surge of monsoon moisture will move into Southern California in the afternoon, increasing our risk of thunderstorms, especially over the mountains and deserts.
Get your 7-day forecast: LA West | LA East | San Fernando Valley/Ventura County | Orange County
Around SoCal
1. LA County reports more than 2,500 new COVID cases; highest number since February
Blaming the highly infectious "delta" variant of the virus and increases in people mingling in public, Los Angeles County health officials Wednesday reported more than 2,500 new COVID-19 infections, the largest daily number since mid-February.
The 2,551 infections reported Wednesday marked the 13th consecutive day the number has topped 1,000. It brought the county's cumulative number of cases from throughout the pandemic to 1,273,390.
The number of people hospitalized due to the virus continued rising as well, jumping from 585 on Tuesday to 645 on Wednesday, according to state figures. The number of people in intensive care rose to 140, up from 134 on Tuesday. One month ago, on June 21, the county reported just 213 people hospitalized due to COVID.
Also continuing to rise is the rolling average daily rate of people testing positive for the virus. As of Wednesday, the average was 5.2%, up from 4.8% on Tuesday. The rate one month ago was 0.7%.
County health officials have pointed to the variant as the primary cause of rising case numbers, saying it can spread rapidly among unvaccinated residents. As of last week, there were still nearly 4 million residents in the county who were unvaccinated, including about 1.3 million children who are ineligible for the shots.
Black and Latino residents have the lowest vaccination rates among ethnic groups in the county. The rate is even lower among young Black and Latino residents. Of the 2,551 new cases reported Wednesday, 83% were among people under age 50, according to the Department of Public Health.
2. Orange County COVID-19 rates and hospitalizations continue to climb
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 increased again in Orange County as the delta variant continues to fuel a resurgence of infections.
The county reported 290 more infections, raising the total since the start of the pandemic to 259,985.
Hospitalizations increased from 126 on Tuesday to 143 on Wednesday, with the number of intensive care unit patients dropping from 59 to 35.
"Basically, this is delta," said Andrew Noymer, an epidemiologist and UC Irvine professor of population health and disease prevention, of the rising number of cases.
"The fall has come early because we have a more transmissible variant."
3. California expands film and television tax credit by $330 million
Joined by state legislators at Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Wednesday to expand California's Film and Television Tax Credit Program by $330 million to attract production jobs to California.
"California's iconic entertainment industry is a point of pride that creates important revenue and opportunity for workers, businesses and communities across the state," Newsom said. "Today's investments ensure film and television production will continue to fuel the California Comeback through thousands of good jobs right here in the Golden State, training opportunities to increase access, and a focus on fostering diversity and inclusion for a workforce that better reflects our vibrant communities."
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the tax credit program has provided $335 million to 48 projects, and 27 television series have left other states and nations to relocate to California since the program launched in 2009. Officials say the program has generated nearly $18 billion in production spending.
The film and television industry provides California with more than 134,000 production-related jobs, more than 83,000 distribution-related jobs and more than 643,000 related jobs for vendors and businesses.
Around the Nation
1. Garland launches gun trafficking strike forces in 5 cities
2. U.S. jobless claims rise to 419,000 from a pandemic low
3. Olympic opening ceremony director fired for Holocaust joke
Don't Miss This
Only on Spectrum News 1
Now that the Milwaukee Bucks have won the NBA championship, the Lakers (and 28 other teams) plan their way to get back to the top. Allie Clifton, Chris McGee and Mike Bresnahan discuss the dramatic NBA Finals as well as what they would do to give the Lakers their best chance to win another title. Geeter would make a huge sacrifice.
SoCal Snapshot
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Chris Taylor, right, throws to first to complete a double play over San Francisco Giants' Donovan Solano (7) on a ground ball from Thairo Estrada during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday in Los Angeles. The Dodgers, who led 2-1 going into the ninth inning, lost 4-2. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)