Election Day, Census Data Coming and New Smoking Ban

Today is March 8. It is the 67th day of the year. We are under a waxing crescent moon. Sunset will occur about 5:57 p.m. Here are five things to know about:

1. Today is Election Day citywide and for those Playa del Rey and Del Rey residents who haven't voted yet, you can check our election setup story right here. Come back here for a mid-afternoon update, too. Also, we'll have a live chat on the election with reports from the field by Patch editors and contributors starting at 5 p.m. So come back later to check it out.

2. The National Weather Service Forecast for today calls for sunny skies with a high temperature around 66 degrees and mostly clear tonight with an overnight low around 48 degrees. Forecasters also predict plenty of sunshine tomorrow with a high near 74 degrees.

3. The U.S. Census Bureau will release California population and demographics data today that goes down to the local level. We'll have a story on how Marina del Rey has changed over the past 10 years after the data comes out this afternoon.

4. Playa del Rey Resident Phil Jackson and the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers continue their road trip with a 4 p.m. tip-off against the Atlanta Hawks. The Lakers have won seven straight since the All-Star break.

5. A citywide ban on smoking in outdoor dining areas begins today and smokers who light up on outdoor restaurant patios or within 40 feet of catering trucks can face fines ranging from $250 to $500. Learn more right here.