Skip to Content
News

Headlines: L.A. Warned Of ‘Concerning’ COVID Spread Ahead; Dog Adoption Fees Waved This Week

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.

—A CBS analysis of FBI crime data found that LAPD's homicide clearance rate has dipped in the last few years "in a way that is concerning," primarily as it comes to Black and brown murder victims. [CBS]

—L.A. County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer is warning everyone of a significant spread of COVID-19 in the next few weeks. [Deadline]

—Billy Eilish, Alicia Keys, Jose Andres, and Paul McCartney will join other stars Sunday for an NBC special called "Ukraine: Answering the Call" to bring attention to the war-torn country's struggle. [Billboard]

—The City of L.A.'s minimum wage goes up to $16.04 today. [NLR]

—Yesterday the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Biden administration has the authority to end the Trump-era immigration policy known commonly as "Remain In Mexico," requiring asylum seekers to remain in the country while their applications are processed. [The Hill]

—A look at the battle between anti-gentrification activists and a new restaurant in Glassell Park, including tagged windows, a physical altercation outside a neighboring bar, and a protest campaign to shut the business down. [LAT]

—Sonny Barger, the founder of the Oakland chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, died Wednesday from liver cancer at the age of 83. [NPR]

—An emerging technology offers some hope for reducing the ills of plastic pollution, with a possible upside for reducing carbon emissions, too. [Science Direct]

-California is phasing out single-use plastics in the country's most sweeping anti-plastic law, signed by Newsom. [CM]

—A commissioner with the FCC wants Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores, saying, "At its core, TikTok functions as a sophisticated surveillance tool that harvests extensive amounts of personal and sensitive data” owned by a company in China. [CNBC]

—Victims of the LAPD's botched fireworks demolition continue to struggle with displacement and loss a year after the disaster that leveled homes in South Los Angeles. [LAT]

—Hollywood's Cinerama Dome will reopen, with license to build two bars and a restaurant on the site. [Variety]

—L.A. Animal Services will be waving adoption fees for the first 250 dogs adopted through July 8. [LAAS]

—The L.A. City Attorney swears he's going after your illegal fireworks this weekend, with fines up to $1,000. [Westside Today]

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

How Jim Henson’s Forgotten ’90s Puppet Entered Foo Culture and Is Feeding Our Endless Nostalgia Craving

Could the Sesame Street creator have ever imagined Baby Sinclair rocking a pair of Nike Cortez’?

February 21, 2026

Daily Memo: ICE Pepper-Sprays and Throws an 80-year-old Attorney, Arrests a Community Watcher, and Takes Seven From Lompoc

Video shows a couple of agents piled on top of Randamaa, shoving his head to the ground as other community members watched in anger and horror. An 80-year-old attorney trying to advocate for the agents to get off Randamaa was pepper-sprayed in the face by one of the agents pinning down Randamaa with the signature Yoga Cobra Pose. As he was pepper-sprayed, you can see the lawyer throws his hands out while blinded, being eventually thrown to the ground by the Yoga agent. 

February 20, 2026

Weekend Eats: Ramadan Feasts at Maydan, Aguja Tortas In Hollywood, and Goat Machito In East L.A.

new dek: "Plus, a new Hokkaido-style fried chicken sandwich from a ghost kitchen in Pico-Union and a new filet mignon taco in Studio City. "

February 20, 2026

Daily Memo: ICE Used 14 Vehicles to Take 6 People from Rancho Cucamonga Courthouse

So essentially what we’re seeing is that Border Patrol is still active down in San Diego, along with ICE. Here, ICE is operating out of their local offices in Santa Ana and San Bernardino. We also know that people are being taken in Los Angeles who show up for their check-ins. These incidents are hard to catch, observe, or document, but we've confirmed that they're happening.

February 19, 2026

The 24 Best Fish and Seafood Tacos In Los Angeles, Mapped

From scallop tacos to fish machaca flautas to a smoked marlin gobernador, here is a taco crawl for our pescatarian friends, and those just looking to eat less meat.

February 19, 2026

Punk Bands Are Bailing on ‘Punk in the Park’ Over Founder’s Trump Donations

L.A. woman-fronted punk band, Naked Aggression, was the first band to pull out. L.A. TACO confirmed that N8NOFACE is also withdrawing from the festival taking place in Vallejo, California, as of this morning. Other bands, like 8 Kalacas, are doubling down and still performing.

February 18, 2026
See all posts