Good morning, SoCal. Here's what you need to know today.
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Other than a few low clouds early Friday morning, skies will be mostly sunny.
Temperatures will start out in the upper 40s to mid-50s for most of SoCal
Temperatures near the coast will warm a few degrees compared to yesterday, while inland temperatures will run about 10 to 15 degrees warmer than yesterday.
Get your 7-day forecast: LA West | LA East | San Fernando Valley/Ventura County | Orange County
Around SoCal
1. COVID-19 cases still high in LA County, with yet another variant growing
It's not a "surge" by any means, but COVID-19 transmission continues to be widespread across Los Angeles County, the public health director said Thursday, noting increases in key metrics used to track the virus and warning of the suddenly increased presence of yet another even more communicable variant.
Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer noted small but steady increases over the past week in the number of COVID-positive people in county hospitals.
Ferrer noted that the numbers are still relatively low when compared to the winter surge numbers that topped 8,000. She credited widespread vaccination, therapeutics and immunity from prior infection for preventing people who are getting infected from winding up hospitalized.
But now, there's another variant to worry about. Experts had previously identified an offshoot of BA.2 that has been dubbed BA.2.12.1, and it is now rapidly increasing its grip. That new offshoot was detected in 7% of LA County infections that underwent testing during the week that ended April 9 — up from 3% the previous week.
2. Feds fault LAUSD services for disabled students during COVID shutdowns
The Los Angeles Unified School District failed to provide adequate educational services to students with disabilities during the COVID-19 campus shutdown, and will take steps to ensure affected students receive compensatory services, the U.S. Department of Education announced Thursday.
The DOE’s Office for Civil Rights announced an agreement with the LAUSD that will require the district to develop plans for assessing the services that were lost by students with disabilities during the pandemic and implement plans to ensure they are provided.
Federal officials said that when LAUSD schools were forced into remote learning by COVID, the district limited services provided to students with disabilities, failed to track services that were provided and notified staff that the district was not responsible for providing “compensatory education” to students with disabilities who suffered learning loss during the pandemic because the campus closures were not ordered by the district.
According to DOE, the district will resolve the issues by “creating and implementing a comprehensive plan to address the compensatory education needs of students with disabilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
3. Pasadena interim police chief announces retirement
Pasadena's interim police chief — the first woman to achieve that rank in the city's history — is retiring, authorities announced Thursday.
Cheryl Moody, a nearly 30-year veteran, will retire effective May 23, said Lisa Derderian of the city of Pasadena. Moody was named interim police chief in January.
On Feb. 3, 2020, Moody had been promoted to deputy chief and was the first woman to achieve that rank as well, Derderian said.
Moody is a founding member of the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. This year, she completed a two-year term as the president of Women Leaders in Law Enforcement of Los Angeles County.
Around the Nation
1. A key inflation gauge jumped 6.6% in March, most since 1982
3. Facing disapproving lawmakers, DHS chief defends readiness for border surge
Don't Miss This
Only on Spectrum News 1
30 years later: Héctor Tobar and Gil Garcetti reflect on the 1992 riots
On April 29, 1992, a jury in Los Angeles found four police officers not guilty of use of excessive force in the beating of Rodney King. A video of that beating had gone viral and had set the city on edge.
In this week's "SoCal in 17," we hear about the days of unrest that followed, which resulted in more than 50 deaths and approximately a billion dollars worth of damage.
First, journalist Héctor Tobar talks about covering the story for the LA Times. Former LA County district attorney Gil Garcetti — who is also Mayor Eric Garcetti's father — then shares how the experience influenced his career as the region's top prosecutor.
Click the link above to hear the full podcast episode.
SoCal Snapshot
Ayaka Furue tees off from the 13th tee during the first round of the LPGA's Palos Verdes Championship golf tournament on Thursday in Palos Verdes Estates. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)