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.
—Van Nuys: Seven Van Nuys Middle School students were transported to hospitals after 10 students “suffered a medical incident,” according to a Los Angeles Unified School District spokesperson. The students were all evaluated for suspected overdose. Officials confirmed that fentanyl was not involved. A Los Angeles Fire Department captain said that the students might have ingested “edibles.” [LAT]
—West Adams: Karen Bass’ daughter was the victim of a reported hit and run near the corner of La Brea Avenue and Ferndale Street, yesterday morning. The incoming Los Angeles mayor said in a statement that her daughter “was not seriously hurt and is home after being cared for at the hospital.” [Patch]
—Eagle Rock: A person was found dead at a house fire this morning on the 1400 block of West Hepner Avenue. [The Eastsider]
—Compton: A Compton man was charged with three felony counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance. The charges stem from a Tuesday raid on a residence in Compton that netted six kilos of suspected fentanyl powder and 250,000 fentanyl pills. [L.A. County District Attorney]
—Los Angeles: COVID cases are once again spiking. If the trend continues and hospitalizations increase, Angelenos might be required to wear masks indoors again. Ron Lin, health reporter for The Times, says we’re “nowhere near” that threshold though. [Ron Lin/Twitter]
—Compton: Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon charged L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy Hiraudi Lopez-Romero with unlawfully tasing a shoplifting suspect who was handcuffed in the backseat of a patrol car at the time. [Associated Press]
—Los Angeles: As of the end of last month, more than 1680 unhoused people have died on city streets, according to the Los Angeles Medical Examiner-Coroner, which only keeps track of sudden deaths. With about a month left in the year, more unhoused people have died this year than the previous year, which saw a record amount of unhoused deaths. [Lexis-Olivier Ray/Twitter]
—Los Angeles: How much does it cost to plant one tree in L.A.? Apparently more than $4,300! That figure includes $1,300 in labor and $2,500 for five years of watering. The actual tree costs less than $300. [City Watch L.A.]
Gas prices continue to improve. The national average is now just below $3.45. And by Christmas they might be under $3, according to analysts. [USA Today]
