Good morning, SoCal. Here's what you need to know today.
Your Weather Planner
Don't forget to put on some sunblock if you'll be outdoors today. Despite the mid and high-level clouds streaming across the sky, you can still get a sunburn.
Those clouds could further develop into an isolated storm over the mountains, but overall, there's less of a chance today compared to yesterday.
Temperatures begin to cool down right around average today and cool each day through early next week.
Get your 7-day forecast: LA West | LA East | San Fernando Valley/Ventura County | Orange County
Around SoCal
1. COVID continues relentless spread in LA County, even among vaccinated residents
LA County reported 2,767 new COVID infections on Thursday, the highest daily number since February. The new cases lifted the county's cumulative total since the pandemic began to 1,276,137. It was the 14th straight day of daily case numbers that topped 1,000.
Another 13 deaths were reported, raising the overall death toll to 24,607.
According to state figures, there were 655 people hospitalized in the county due to COVID, up from 645 on Wednesday. There were 148 people in intensive care, up from 140 a day earlier.
The average daily rate of people testing positive for the virus rose slightly to 5.26% on Thursday, compared to 5.2% a day earlier. The rate one month ago was 0.7%.
Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer again insisted that the current vaccines offer strong protection against the "delta" variant, and she continued to urge residents to get vaccinated. Young Black and Latino residents continue to have the lowest rates of vaccination in the county.
Black residents also had the highest rate of new infections over the last month, at 181 per 100,000 residents. Latino/a residents have traditionally had one of the highest infections rates throughout the pandemic, but over the past months, white residents accrued a higher rate, at 83 per 100,000 residents. Latinos had an infection rate of 62 per 100,000 residents.
Black residents also had the highest rate of hospitalizations over the month, followed by Latinos and whites.
2. Dodgers blow another 9th inning lead, fall to Giants 5-3
LaMonte Wade Jr. broke a ninth-inning tie with a two-run single and the San Francisco Giants rallied against closer Kenley Jansen again for a 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night.
The Giants trailed 3-1 going into the ninth before scoring four times to extend their lead in the NL West to three games over the defending World Series champions. San Francisco took three of four in a tense series between the longtime rivals.
Wilmer Flores, who hit a go-ahead homer off Jansen on Wednesday, started the rally with a one-out single and advanced to third when Donovan Solano lined a double off the wall in center field with two outs. Pinch-hitter Jason Vosler walked to load the bases.
Flores scored on Thairo Estrada's infield single, cutting it to 3-2, and the Giants tied it when Jansen walked Darin Ruf to force in a run.
Ruf checked his swing on a full-count pitch — although replays appeared to show he went around. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts threw his cap and argued vehemently, leading to him being ejected in the ninth inning for the second consecutive night.
Wade then hit a sinking liner to right field that dropped just in front of newly acquired Billy McKinney, giving San Francisco a 5-3 advantage. Jansen was lifted to a chorus of boos for the second straight night.
Jansen (1-4) fell to 21 for 26 in save opportunities. He has allowed seven runs on seven hits with four walks in one inning over the past two games.
3. California makes change to pay unemployment benefits faster
California Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration on Thursday announced a major change in how the state pays unemployment benefits, potentially unlocking payments for up to 100,000 people who have gone weeks or months without assistance.
Getting unemployment benefits is a two-step process. First, state officials must decide if people are eligible. If they are, the state starts paying them. But those people must contact the state every two weeks to confirm they are still eligible to keep getting paid.
Sometimes, state officials must investigate residents' eligibility after they have been paid. When this happens, the state stops paying them until the investigation is complete. Before the pandemic, these investigations usually did not take too long. But during the pandemic, the state has been overwhelmed with millions of claims that have caused lengthy delays.
The Employment Development Department announced Thursday it would keep paying people unemployment benefits even while they are investigating their eligibility. The change is part of a lawsuit settlement between the state and the Center for Workers' Rights, an advocacy group.
The change applies only to people who have certified for benefits and have already received at least one week of payment in the past. Daniela Urban, the group's executive director, said it could impact up to 100,000 people.
Around the Nation
1. Tokyo Games: An Olympics unlike any other kicks off
2. Democrats renew questions about FBI background check of Kavanaugh
3. Report: About 100 U.S. Olympic athletes are unvaccinated against COVID-19, team doctor says
Don't Miss This
Only on Spectrum News 1
LA Law: Former LAPD Chief Bill Bratton on what to do when police get things wrong
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore admitted "human error" caused a botched detonation of illegal fireworks in South LA. So how can the police make things right after such extensive damage and injuries? Former LAPD Chief Bill Bratton joins us with his take on how cops can repair relations with the communities they're tasked with protecting and serving. Bratton's new book, "The Profession," chronicles his time in LA and how he managed to make inroads with this city's Black community.
SoCal Snapshot
The sun sets behind Dodger Stadium as starting pitcher Walker Buehler throws to a San Francisco Giants batter during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)