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Catch up with the top 5 stories in LA in just 3 minutes. Sent weeknights.

By Sam Benson Smith

Good evening. It’s Tuesday, December 5, and it’s time for a culinary skills throwdown. But first, let’s get you caught up with L.A. in the next three minutes with the following news stories.

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1 A jarring new report documents a massive increase of unhoused people dying in L.A. County.

How high is the increase? It’s record high — shooting up 70% from 2019 to 2021. And officials say that COVID-19 is not the main issue driving this increase.
Overdoses remain top cause: In 2020 and 2021, people experiencing homelessness in L.A. County were 38 times more likely to die from an overdose than the general population. Fentanyl accounts for a rapidly growing percentage of those overdose deaths.
Heart disease, traffic violence and homicide: These are the next three leading causes of death among people experiencing homelessness in L.A. “There's a tragedy happening in L.A., and it's happening on a daily basis,” said Will Nicholas, with the L.A. County Department of Public Health.
On city accountability: The budget committee voted unanimously to recommend that the council require Mayor Karen Bass’ office provide twice monthly public reports (showing how money has been spent, how it will be spent, and “programmatic” metrics) on Inside Safe, her program offering services to unhoused people asked to leave encampments. If approved by the full council, the program would lose funding for failing to comply.

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Kyle Stokes/LAist

2 Should L.A. use unarmed teams to respond to mental health related traffic incidents? New recommendations say yes.

About the report: It was first requested back in October 2020, so it’s long-awaited. The work by outside consultants for the city is still just a draft. They make multiple recommendations on how to reduce bad outcomes during traffic stops.
Why it matters: According to the LAPD’s use of force report for 2022, 26% of incidents where officers used force (like shooting someone or striking them in the head) take place when an officer stops someone walking or driving.
What’s next: The final report on alternatives to armed traffic enforcement is expected in the coming weeks. Keep reading for more on recommended changes.

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Courtesy Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department/via Twitter

3 A pop-up art show in South L.A. is taking on the housing crisis.

What it’s about: Finding affordable housing is tough throughout L.A. County, but in South L.A., this challenge is coupled with concerns about gentrification. “South L.A. Is Still Home” examines the housing crisis’ impact on Black and Latino residents
The backstory: Earlier this year, members of the nonprofit Community Coalition decided to raise awareness about housing affordability — a top concern for many — through the arts.
Coming up: This Saturday, May 13 at 5 p.m., the group hosts a poetry night, where spoken word artists will address themes of housing and belonging. To close the art show, the nonprofit will have a festival on May 20, from noon to 7 p.m.

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Ashley Hernandez/LAist

4 There are many ways to be Chinese American, even in just one family.

About this essay: Being a part of the Chinese diaspora is complicated — culturally, politically, linguistically. Chester Leung’s family is a living example of this.
His story: Leung explores the cultural and political divisions within his community as reflected in his own family — some of whom speak Cantonese and others Mandarin, and whose national and political identities run the gamut.
About the series: This essay is part of our Being American series, in which people from the community examine Americanness and who it belongs to.

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David Wagner/LAist

5 Women’s health is more than ‘bikini medicine,’ but it remains underfunded and understudied.

What’s going on: The research of diseases that primarily afflict women, like endometriosis and cervical cancer, is underfunded — and women have historically been excluded from clinical trials.
Why it matters: The lack of knowledge about women's health means women's symptoms are often dismissed and there can be many barriers to diagnosis — many of these diseases have high rates of mortality and can have severe effects on women's quality of life.
What else you should know: We’re exploring crucial topics related to women’s health, including the physiological and legal aspects of menstruation.

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And now ... They say baking is a science and cooking is an art. Maybe it’s because of the copious amounts of cooking competitions I watch, but sometimes, it feels like cooking is a science too. I'm trying to learn the trade secrets — like knowing when it’s best to poach, simmer or steam foods to hit that flavor pocket. And folks, it’s not easy.

While I’m nowhere near chef-level skill, a group of students are already on their way with Los Angeles Community College District’s third annual Culinary Cup. Students in the competition were tasked with creating dishes using Southeast Asian flavors, and only one college came out on top.

That’s it for today. We’ll see you tomorrow.

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