🌱 L.A. Storm Damage Update + Super Mario Brothers-Themed Restaurant

Hello, all! Today, we plan our next museum visit on Heritage Treasures Day. Sylvia here with your fresh copy of the Los Angeles Daily. Keep reading to find out all the community information you need to know right now, including news on:

• 🚘 The shared ride model for the USC Lyft Program
• 💰 Girl Scout cookie season
• 🍕 Pizza City Fest L.A.

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🌥️ But first, today's weather:

Cool with variable cloudiness. High: 62 Low: 47.

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations in the City of Los Angeles

• Berri Brothers at 3860 E 3rd St., $3.87
• ARCO at 3201 W Valley Blvd., $3.99
• Sinaco Oil at 9930 National Blvd., $3.99

💐 Valentine’s Day Poll! 🥂
Pink hearts, boxes of chocolates, and greeting cards – reminders that Valentine’s Day is coming are everywhere. But responses to the holiday are mixed. What are your feelings about the occasion? Do you celebrate? So far, 50% take a bah-humbug approach, while 38.9% plan on a Valentine’s Day with all the trimmings. 2.8% plan on celebrating Galentine’s Day, and 8.3% focus on Singles Awareness Day.

📰 Here are the top stories today in Los Angeles:

1. Los Angeles storm update: They weren’t kidding when they forecast lots and lots of rain. How’s the city doing in its aftermath? On Tuesday, Union Station had “flooding in the pedestrian walkway leading to train platforms on the main level.” It got so bad that “golf carts were needed to shuttle passengers to their destinations at Union Station,” unless they wanted to wade through ankle-high water. In Chatsworth, a sinkhole suddenly opened at 11414 Iverson Road, causing two cars to fall in. “Firefighters conducted a high-angle rope rescue operation, using the aerial ladder, and safely extricated both patients.” On Wrightwood Lane, a couple of homeowners experienced one-foot mud flows. Drivers had “to avoid the areas from Wrightwood Lane to Fredonia Drive, and Lankershim and Cahuenga boulevards for street services to clear the roads.” In the Hollywood Hills, a hillside gave way near the 2150 block of North Beech Knoll Road. Earlier on Tuesday, the Metro Gold Line (L) had to provide shuttles to passengers because of “debris on the tracks” between Southwest Station all the way to South Pasadena. (Fox, NBC, Patch, 2, 3, Press-Telegram)
2. Last spring, USC made the decision to nix a “shared ride model for the USC Lyft Program due to coronavirus concerns.” However, we learned that the “USC Lyft Program established the shared ride model Friday.” Students now have the option of selecting the shared ride option within the “USC Lyft Zone to be covered by the University.” Already, a backlash is taking place. One freshman noted that “the policy changes exacerbate inequality between students of different socioeconomic status.” (Daily Trojan)
3. Get the cash ready, your favorite dealer is ready to come again. We’re talking about Girl Scout cookie season that, in Los Angeles, kicks off on January 29. However, those in the know should contact Girl Scouts beginning January 17, the first date they can start taking orders. Oh, and there’s a new cookie: Raspberry Rally! (KTLA)
4. A Super Mario Brothers-themed restaurant? Yes, please! The Toadstool Café is coming to Universal Studios complete with green Warp Pipes, power-up icons, the mushroom motif and a “peppy soundtrack featuring remixed music from various Super Mario Brothers video games.” The eatery can host 265 guests with a menu that’s predominantly Italian. If you’re ready to enjoy Yoshi’s eggs or Mario burgers, head there beginning February 17. (LA Eater)
5. Pizza City Fest L.A. is coming to the Event Deck at L.A. LIVE on April 29 and 30. Between noon and 5 p.m., aficionados can enjoy all things pizza. “Pizza City doughcents will guide you to some of the best styles of L.A.’s best pizza in about three hours. Tours are by foot, and you’ll learn about the history and meet some of the pizzaiolos behind a few of the city’s best pies.” So far, we know that, among others, Quarter Sheets Pizza from Echo Park and Brooklyn Ave. Pizza Co. from Boyle Heights plan on participating. (Pizza City Fest)

📆 Today in Los Angeles:

• Birthday Bash with books, songs, scarves, shakers, stories and more! Porter Ranch Branch Library (10:30 AM)
• Armenian for Beginners online course with the Central Library (1 PM)
• House Sketch Night at The Pack Theater (9 PM)
• The Love Song Bar hosts J Noir, Jae JBW, Sonic D, & Bahar Khadem (9 PM)
• ASIATICA, Maggie Gently & Jackson Sage take the stage at The Virgil (9 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "2022 LAFD Photo of the Year Winners! We are excited to announce the winners for the 2022 LAFD Photo of the Year: 1) Jake Asner 2) Chris Conkle 3) Leo Kaufman And a special award, 'Forensic Focus' was given to Chris Conkle." (LAFD via Instagram)
• "Do you have a new year's resolution to find an amazing career with a great salary and benefits? Look no further - Subscribe for an email notification for Helicopter Mechanic to achieve your goals! tiny.cc/HotJobs" (City of Los Angeles - Jobs via Instagram)
• "Important message regarding Topanga Elementary relocation." (Los Angeles Unified via Instagram)
• "We’re planning the instructional calendars for the 2023-2026 school years. Please take a minute to take our brief survey by visiting achieve.lausd.net." (Los Angeles Unified via Instagram)
• "National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day: The LACoFD extends our gratitude to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, California Highway Patrol, LAPD Headquarters, and our many other partner law enforcement agencies." (Los Angeles County Fire Department via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• [Free Masterclass] Increase Your Website Sales & Leads Using SEO (January 14)
• Preschool-8th Grade Open House - ST. CYRIL SCHOOL (January 19)
• Crossing Over With Psychic Medium John Edward (Live)! (January 19)
• Run/Walk for WeSPARK 5k/10k (January 29)
• Add your event

Announcements:

• Preschool - 8th Grade Open House - ST. CYRIL SCHOOL (Details)
• Veterans Only - Free IT Support Specialist Tech Training Program (Details)
• Add your announcement

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with a new update.

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Los Angeles Daily? Contact me at losangeles@patch.com