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.
—Bakersfield: Two men set themselves on fire while seemingly trying to burn down an immigration center in Bakersfield. A Ring camera captured the two men pouring an accelerant on the building at night. After dousing the exterior of the building, one of the men stands over a puddle of the accelerant and lights it, inadvertently setting fire to themselves and their companion. Smoke from the fire reportedly damaged the building. The immigration center has started a GoFundMe for support. [VICE]
—A Walgreens executive admitted the whole smash-and-grab crime-wave narrative that dominated the news cycle last year might have been overblown. "Maybe we cried too much last year,” they said. They also added that the security guards that they hired to combat crime have largely been "ineffective." [CNBC]
—Highland Park: Billie Eilish's family home in Highland Park was reportedly burglarized last night. Los Angeles police arrested a suspect. It doesn't appear that anything was stolen. [MSN]
—Antoinette Scully, a Black queer community activist, has qualified for the Council District 6 special election. The special election was called following the resignation of former L.A. City Council President Nury Martinez after she was caught on audio making racist and derogatory remarks during a secretly recorded conversation. [@UnrigLA/Twitter]
—A "resume bank" has been created to encourage hiring more Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the City of L.A. [LAist]
—Gordy Harmon, founding member of The Whispers, dies at 79. [ABC7]
—The New York Times is kicking off the new year with another controversial take on Los Angeles: 'Is New York Turning Into Los Angeles?' [NYT]
—Gregory Yee, a breaking news reporter for The Times, avid cook, and film photographer, passed away suddenly earlier this week at age 33. [LAT]—LAUSD and two former principals who were previously convicted of criminal charges are being sued for not reporting sexual abuse allegations made by a student. [LAT]
