Greater LA

After a mob of Trump supporters entered the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday, many people are concerned about what the remaining weeks of Trump’s presidency will bring. California Congresswoman Karen Bass says, “I would love to see this presidency end today because I worry about our country over the next 13 days.” She talks about what she saw during the upheaval in DC, and what she expects in its aftermath.

Hundreds of thousands of California workers have applied for unemployment benefits, are eligible to receive them, but still haven’t been paid. Antiquated computer systems, staffing and training problems, and a massive fraud case are to blame. In the meantime, people are struggling.

Category 10 and World War III are descriptions of what’s happening inside LA’s hospitals and morgues. They underscore how serious the winter and holiday super surge of COVID-19 really is. Meanwhile, Orange County residents are still arguing over wearing masks in public. “There's so much mixed messaging, at least in the totality of Orange County. It's not surprising then that some people really do think coronavirus shouldn't be paid any attention to,” says Gustavo Arellano.

Greater LA offers a highlight reel of some of the year’s best stories. A community cookout was born out of the pandemic and helps feed those in need. Wave pools in Palm Springs help lure surfers to the desert hot spot. An outdoor space fosters community for dogs and humans alike. 

The COVID-19 pandemic presented many challenges in 2020, perhaps the least of which (and the last of which) is what to do about the holiday party. History shows that holiday parties — and particularly company holiday parties — are already fraught with the perils of drunken embarrassment and potential harassment suits. What changes as the whole production moves to Zoom? Will people learn anything that improves future get-togethers?

A hint of Christmas spirit is still alive in the quaint, Danish tourist town of Solvang, and despite stay-at-home orders, some people can’t help but see it for themselves. While the local chocolate shop and bakery owners say tourism is down to a fraction of what it usually is this time of year, some Californian travelers say the risk is worth a day escaping their worries in this fantasyland.

As the coronavirus pandemic tears through Los Angeles, city officials continue intensive cleanings of homeless encampments. Last week they expanded the sweeps to three new locations in San Pedro and Wilmington. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends allowing people experiencing homelessness to shelter in place, but city officials say they must balance a variety of public health concerns.

Jolly Old St. Nick is still coming to town this pandemic Christmas — straight to living rooms via Zoom, Skype, etc. With 2020 being a tough year emotionally and economically, Santa Ric Erwin, who’s based in Hemet, California, says digital visits have been a lifesaver on several fronts. “My economic season was saved. My emotional season has been salvaged. And I’m really having a ball.”

As TikTok gained popularity, talent management companies had an idea. Why not gather 10 or 15 of the most popular TikTok stars and put them in a fancy house to make videos together? What’s the appeal? Why do these TikTok accounts go viral? Does anyone make money from this? KCRW spends the day inside one of them, Honey House, to find out.

As the national COVID-19 rollout begins, frontline workers from different industries are vying for a top spot for the treatment. But not everyone is as excited for the vaccine.