A.M. Brief: BH Restaurant Under Fire for Promoting Prohibition-Style NYE Event

If you’re going to have a secret NYE event at a Beverly Hills restaurant, it would probably help to keep it a secret. Also this morning: Stay-at-home likely to be extended, big malls get baby fines for COVID-19 violations, and how about all that thunder and lightning last night? Today is Monday. Here is your news. Take it.

Morning News Rundown

Beverly Hills restaurant La Scala is getting dragged on social media for allegedly handing out invites to an indoor Prohibition-style New Year’s Eve dinner—definitely not allowed per current county and state health orders. The invite says the restaurant is “considering taking reservations” and reminds potential guests to “please keep this discreet, but tell all your friends.” [Deadline]

Health officials project that many areas throughout the state will have their stay-at-home orders extended into the new year as holiday-related surges of COVID-19 continue to overwhelm hospital resources. Orders are to remain in effect until regional ICU capacity reaches or exceeds 15%. Southern California’s current available ICU capacity is 0%. [L.A. Times]

After reports of overcrowding and other health order violations, L.A. County stepped up enforcement at shopping malls. According to the L.A. Times, the Glendale Galleria, Citadel Outlets, and The Grove have all been cited, but fines are capped at $500 per citation. [KTLA]

L.A.’s first major winter storm of the season brought heavy rains paired with stunning displays of lightning and thunder early this morning. Scattered rain is expected through late afternoon. Parts of the San Bernardino Mountains could see up to 14 inches of snowfall. [CBS Los Angeles]

Full House star Lori Loughlin is out of the slammer after serving a two-month sentence for her role in a 2019 college admissions scandal involving her two daughters. Loughlin must also complete 100 hours of community service and pay a fine of $150,000. [The Hollywood Reporter]

The City of Long Beach temporarily closed all of its beaches Saturday after 50,000 gallons of sewage spilled into the Los Cerritos Channel. Long Beach Sanitation reported the spill was caused by pump station failure due to power loss. [LB Post]