A.M. Brief: Regional Stay-At-Home Order Likely “In The Next Day or Two”

With infections spiking throughout the state, a new regional Stay-At-Home order is expected soon. Also this morning: A South Bay developer pleads guilty to money laundering, the county’s website for restaurant aid crashes the same day it opens, and the Bond Fire has forced tens of thousands to evacuate in Orange County. Finally, a volunteer group to enforce facial covering compliance? Yep. Here is your news. Take it!

Morning News Rundown

ICU and hospital capacity throughout the state continue to shrink. Yesterday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new regional stay-at-home order, which he expects to authorize “in the next day or two.” Once triggered, the orders would remain in place for at least three weeks. [NPR]

In terms of infection, November was the worst month of the pandemic thus far for Los Angeles County. There were a total of 93,301 new COVID-19 cases, eclipsing the previous one-month high of 84,952 cases in July. November saw 585 reported deaths, which is more than in October, but less than half of the death total from July. As of Thursday, COVID-19 hospitalizations in the county stood at 2,572, the highest recorded total yet, sparking fears of staffing shortages at some facilities. The spiking infections and hospitalizations are seen as lagging indicators of increased death totals in the weeks to come. [Crosstown LA]

On Thursday, Torrance-based real estate developer Samuel Leung pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy charges for his part in a money laundering scheme tied to City Hall approval of a 352-unit apartment project in Harbor City. Leung’s case is separate from the federal corruption probe tied to disgraced former city councilman Jose Huizar. [L.A. Times]

A flood of applicants crashed the Los Angeles County online portal for restaurant owners to request grants via a new local aid program. The page went live just after midnight Thursday. By mid-day, the county was forced to temporarily freeze applications to address technical issues. [LAist]

The Supreme Court has set aside a lower court’s ruling that rejected a challenge to California’s restrictions against indoor religious services. The move follows a recent ruling in favor of churches and synagogues in New York, which was filed on similar grounds. The case will now be reconsidered by a Federal District Court in Riverside. [Reuters]

The Bond Fire has forced over 25,000 residents near Silverado Canyon to evacuate their homes as wind gusts over 70 mph propelled the rapid spread of the blaze overnight from Wednesday into Thursday. As of last night, the blaze had consumed an estimated 6,400 acres and was 10% contained. [Weather.com]

Hall monitor duty for adults? The City of Pasadena now has a group of volunteers patrolling the streets to enforce mask mandates. They’ll even hand out masks to fellow pedestrians who don’t have them. [CBS Los Angeles]