USC opts out of bowl game due to COVID-19 concerns

No. 13 Southern California became the sixth Pac-12 team to opt out of a bowl game Saturday, citing a recommendation from team doctors and discussions with players due to risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

AP source: Rose Bowl denied exemption to allow fans for CFP

The Rose Bowl was denied a special exemption from the state of California to allow a few hundred fans to attend the College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 1, putting the game staying in Pasadena in serious doubt.

Apple quietly closes retail stores in California as coronavirus cases surge

With less than a week until Christmas, Cupertino-based Apple quietly closed all of their retail stores in California as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to surge.

Congress nears deal on almost $1 trillion COVID-19 relief package

An arcane battle over emergency Federal Reserve powers is frustrating efforts to lock down an agreement on an almost $1 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package.

Officials probe possible COVID exposures from LAX-bound passenger who died

Federal health officials are working with United Airlines to determine if passengers aboard a Los Angeles-bound flight may have been exposed to COVID-19.

'Slap in the face': New Medicare rule to cut emergency doctors' pay amid COVID-19 pandemic

Many physicians are facing a potential pay cut as a new rule passed by Congress, set to go into effect Jan. 1, will lower the reimbursement rates that clinicians receive for treating patients covered by Medicare.

LAUSD, teachers union reach pact on continued distance learning

With Los Angeles Unified campuses remaining largely closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the district and its teachers union have extended their labor agreement governing distance learning, with the pact including additional office hours and up to 30 more minutes of instruction time on Mondays.

EDD fraud, theft on the rise during COVID-19 pandemic

As more Americans became unemployed during the COVID-19 pandemic, EDD fraud and theft skyrocketed.

10-year-old dog adopted after spending 1,134 days in shelter

Capone the 10-year-old Labrador retriever mix had difficulty finding a forever home and spent over 1,000 days in a Pittsburgh animal shelter before finally being adopted by a loving family.

Pelosi, McConnell receive Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi received a first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, citing her “confidence in science” in a tweet Friday morning. Shortly after, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was also vaccinated.

Person caught COVID-19 after 5 minutes in restaurant 20 feet from infected patron, researchers say

It took only five minutes for one South Korean restaurant patron to become infected with the novel coronavirus from another person at the restaurant sitting more than 20 feet away, researchers say.

COVID-19 models plot harrowing scenarios for California hospitals

Over the next four weeks, California hospitals could be overflowing with 75,000 patients — about five times the current level — and an average of 400 people will die every day.