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.
—Russian missiles battering Kharkiv, Ukraine, injured four staff members working for chef Jose Andres' non-profit World Central Kitchen, which has a local hub destroyed in the bombing. The non-profit organization feeds embattled populations and refugees across the war-torn country. Andres has previously operated restaurants in Los Angeles, among other U.S. and international cities. [Deadline]
—A Sherman Oaks Whole Foods is experimenting with new technology that lets people shop and pay with only a wave of their palms, no check-out needed. [KCRW]
—Activists are using mobile vigils to commemorate the lives of loved ones who died while experiencing homelessness. [BuzzFeed]
—A deep dive into L.A.'s Cambodian-owned donut shops and the Boyle Heights exhibit that honors them. [KCRW]
—38-year-old Jaycie Martinez was killed on Saturday morning when a car she was riding in slammed into a house in Watts. The driver was found to be under the influence. [ABC]
—A couple in Venice was shot and killed while sleeping in their bed last week, setting their neighborhood on edge. [NBC]
—An initiative named the California Recycling and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act will attempt to reduce the amount of plastic trash, but faces furious opposition from people who make or distribute single-use plastic crap-ola. [LAT]
—A male couple from L.A. and their children were verbally assaulted during an Amtrak trip to the Bay Area last week, leading to police being called. [NBC]
—Antisemitic flyers were found around various neighborhoods in west Los Angeles this weekend, potentially timed during Passover. [NBC]
—R.I.P. to legendary New York D.J., record executive, and graffiti artist Kay Slay, born Keith Grayson, who passed away Sunday after a four month battle with complications from COVID-19. [HipHop DX]