🌱 LAUSD Drops Masks Wednesday + Pile-Up On Victory Blvd. & 405

Good day, neighbors; today is the First Day of Spring! Sylvia here with a fresh edition of the Los Angeles Daily.

Kids and adults can leave masks in their school backpacks come Wednesday. Also, how did eight cars and a big rig collide? Finally, the Durfee Avenue fire burned one acre.

First, today's weather:

Some clouds, then sunshine. High: 76 Low: 52.

Here are the top five stories today in Los Angeles:

1. We learned Saturday that the Los Angeles Unified School District will allow staff members and students to remove masks indoors beginning Wednesday. This announcement comes after “the district has reached agreements with its labor unions.” “We know some in our school communities and offices will continue to wear masks, while others may not. Please consider your situation and do what is best for you or your child,” said the superintendent. (Patch)
2. If you were stuck on the 405 near Victory Boulevard, you were not alone. There was a multi-car accident Friday around 11:30 a.m., which involved a big rig and eight cars. (Nationwide Report)
3. The Whittier Narrows Legg Lake area burned Friday right around 4 p.m. The smoke was visible for miles. The L.A. County FD responded to the 300 block of North Durfee Avenue, where they were able to contain the blaze. We lost about an acre of vegetation. (Patch)
4. We learned March 12 that roughly 200,000 Jews live in Ukraine. Locally, Rabbi Noah Farkas is overseeing the efforts of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles to help Ukrainian refugees, which resulted in a fundraising effort bringing in more than $1.5 million. The rabbi traveled to the border in Poland to connect with refugees. “Imagine being on that bus, not knowing if you can make it to the border, and when you finally make it to the border, and you cross that border, you feel very alone -- that your experience, the entire uprooting of your life, the school you went to, the parks you used to go to, the grocery store you went to -- that's all behind you,” he said. (ABC)
5. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are setting up housekeeping. We learned Saturday that the couple is buying a 20,000 square foot Bel Air villa with 10 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms. Listed at $65 million, the couple put in an offer in the “mid-$50 million range.” (TMZ)

Today in Los Angeles:

• MJF Fox Trot at the Rose Bowl Stadium (6:30 AM)
• Forbidden City at 5453 Hollywood Blvd (10 AM)
• ThirdLove on Abbot Kinney holds its Bra Swap Event (12 PM)
• Pacific Opera Project Presents “Iolanta” at the Aratani Theatre (3 PM)
• Spring Equinox Reiki, Crystal and Sound Healing Experience with Jules Davis at the Blossom Ballroom (8 PM)
  

From my notebook:

• Today, LA County Parks had a surprise visit from Venus Williams! She stopped by East Rancho Dominguez Park to utilize her home court! She even took a picture with our Park Supervisor, Tracey Latson! What a great surprise! (Facebook)
• Peacock Prime Time begins at the Arboretum & Botanic Garden! Mating season is the only time of the year that peacocks show their beautiful train of feathers. This behavior is meant to attract a female, called a peahen. Brush up on these safety tips and join us. (Facebook)
• The Department of Disability is seeking to urgently hire a Senior Project Coordinator for its Disability Access Services Division. Find out more about this amazing exempt opportunity. (Instagram)
• A Mount Washington Southwest neighbor is looking for a house cleaner every other week. Must have references and transportation. (Nextdoor)
• Our Hollywood Studio District NW neighbor lost a bird. Please keep an eye out for a 1-year-old African Gray Parrot, last seen at 6200 N. Hollywood Blvd. If you see her, please call or text! (Nextdoor)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Polished2Perfection LA —
• Yes Assistant - Virtual Assistant Service — (Visit Website)
• Rolling Robots — (Visit website)
• Market-Connections Professional Resume Writing Services — (Visit website)
• Vydeo Media — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• Jason Alexander's 20th Annual Celebrity Poker Tournament (March 20)
• The Sweetest Mom Daughter Chocolate Party Celebrating Women's Month This Sunday (March 20)
• Love Chocolate Women's Day Mom Daughter Party (March 20)
• American Diabetes Association Diabetes Alert Day: Understand Your Risk (March 22)
• Estate Planning for Your Loved Ones - Webinar (March 23)
• Divorce Boot Camp – Vesta Pasadena, CA Hub (March 23)
• [Free Masterclass] Increase Your Website Sales & Leads Using SEO (March 26)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (March 28)
• 2022 Hollywood Hike to End Homelessness (April 2)
• Add your event

Loving the Los Angeles Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link, so they can subscribe
• Get your local business listed in front of readers
• Send me a news tip or suggestion at losangeles@patch.com

Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with your next 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.