A.M. Brief: Hundreds of Early Voting Locations Open Today in L.A. County

If you haven’t voted yet, hundreds of new polling locations open today in L.A. County for early ballot casting. Also this morning: Public Health talks about COVID-19 spread and dining, Jerry’s Deli is closed for good, and there’s a new outdoor trail in South Los Angeles. On with the headlines!

Morning News Rundown

Early voting expands today as vote centers open at landmarks throughout Los Angeles. Dodger Stadium, SoFi Stadium, Banc of California Stadium, the Hollywood Pantages, the Hollywood Palladium, the Magic Castle, and USC’s Galen Center will all serve as ballot casting locations. As of today, there will be 650 new vote centers in L.A. County, adding to the 100 that opened last week. [CBS Los Angeles]

During Wednesday’s daily presser, Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer estimated that 10-15% of COVID-19 cases in the county are connected to dining. Ferrer attributed the correlation to the nature of the dining experience, which includes the “prolonged period of time in the presence of others who are outside of their household without their face coverings, and often engaged in conversations.” [Eater LA]

As of today, the original Jerry’s Deli location in Studio City has served its last sandwich. Within the past year, Jerry’s had already closed all other L.A.-area locations. [Deadline]

The City of Long Beach has confirmed that its Animal Control agency is investigating Councilman Roberto Uranga and his wife, Tonia, for animal cruelty related to the alleged neglect of the couple’s two German Shepherds. [LB Post]

Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Sheila Kuehl authored a motion to assess what means and authority the County may have to remove or impeach Sheriff Alex Villanueva. But as the L.A. Times pointed out in a recent editorial, there is little precedent for such a move, which calls into question whether or not the Board of Supervisors will be able to follow through. [LA Mag]

The Park to Playa Trail is ready for hikers. The 13-mile trail links up multiple parks and natural areas in a route that stretches from Baldwin Hills to the Pacific Ocean. The trail had an official ribbon cutting ceremony yesterday and is now open to the public. [LA County]

Downtown L.A. has never gone this long being this hot. For the past 192 days, a temperature of 70 degrees or higher was recorded every single day, the longest such streak since daily temps have been tracked. The previous record was 190 days, set in 1885. [ABC 7]