Welcome to L.A. TACO’s daily news briefs, where we bring our loyal members, readers, and supporters the latest headlines about Los Angeles politics and culture. Stay informed and look closely.
—Afroman is trolling the sheriffs that broke into his home by selling t-shirts with their photos and nicknames he’s giving them. "GOOD MORNING LADIES!!! PRE ORDER YOUR BABY MAKING BRIAN NEWBORN NEWLAND T-SHIRTS NOW," the Palmdale native announced in an early morning tweet. Shirts are available for purchase on Afroman's official website. [Afroman/Twitter]
—Long Beach: The family of an 18-year-old woman who was shot to death by a Long Beach Unified School District security officer settled a lawsuit with the school district for $13 million. [LAT]
—A former major league pitcher from the San Fernando Valley faces sentencing Tuesday for filing false tax returns in connection with an illegal gambling business that allegedly ensnared ex-Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig. 50-year-old Erik Hiljus of Panorama City pleaded guilty in December to two counts of filing false tax returns and faces up to six years in federal prison, according to the U-S Attorney's Office. Hiljus, who briefly played for the Detroit Tigers, was an agent for the illegal gambling business but did not work with Puig, prosecutors said. [City News Services]
—Santa Ynez: A Santa Ynez high school broke its promise with a student LGBTQ+ group after parent complained and painted over a rainbow crosswalk. In a message to parents, the school's superintendent and principal agreed “schools should not be politicized or used for outside agendas that cause division or disrupt school activities.” [SB Independent/IG]
—San Fernando Valley: Tuesday is the final day to cast ballots in a special election to fill the Sixth District City Council seat that became vacant with the resignation of former Council President Nury Martinez. With seven candidates on the ballot, it is likely no one will get a majority. In that case, a runoff will be held between the top two finishers. The field includes Marisa Alcaraz, deputy chief of staff and environmental policy director for Councilman Curren Price, and Marco Santana, the director of a housing nonprofit organization who has worked for former state Senator Bob Hertzberg and Representative Tony Cardenas. [City News Services]
—DTLA: Garment workers marched from the fashion district to city hall this morning to uplift their campaign "to preserve, protect, and incentivize garment jobs." The Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee is expected to vote on a proposal that the group says "threatens to displace the local garment industry."
—Echo Park: Miracle Messages is a San Francisco-based program that connects the housed and unhoused through phone calls. The idea is "a short phone conversation with a good friend can lighten up the day," The Eastsider L.A. reports. [The Eastsider L.A.]
