THE BIG STORY

So many people are dying of COVID in LA, they’ve had to suspend cremation limits

In Los Angeles County, permits for crematoriums include limits on the number of cremations per month, “based on potential air quality impacts.” But due to the region’s backlog of deaths due to COVID-19, officials have temporarily lifted the environmental limits.

As a result of the coronavirus, the current death rate in the region is double what it was before the pandemic — meaning a large backlog of bodies at hospitals, funeral homes, and crematoriums.

The latest surge of the virus has been devastating to the Los Angeles area. To date, more than 1 million have been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to LA Public Health, and nearly 14,000 people have died.

According to the order suspending the limits, as of Jan. 15, there are more than 2,700 bodies being stored at hospitals and the Coroner's Office.

It’s not the only COVID-19 crisis for the region — earlier this month, hospitals were running dangerously low on oxygen and other supplies, with some critically ill patients having to wait up to eight hours in ambulances.

National Guard members help place the bodies of those who died from COVID-19 into temporary storage at the LA County Medical Examiner-Coroner's Office. LA County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner via AP

STAYING ON TOP OF THIS

The Pentagon says there is no evidence of an “insider threat” to Biden’s inauguration

On Sunday, an alarming Associated Press story reported that in the wake of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, officials were "worried about an insider attack or other threat" from the thousands of National Guard troops who have traveled to Washington, DC for Joe Biden’s inauguration.

Now, a top national security official says there was no evidence of an “insider threat” posed by National Guard members.

Christopher Miller, acting secretary for the US Department of Defense, confirmed that the FBI is helping vet the more than 25,000 service members assigned to secure the nation's capital, but said that the review was “normal” for large security events.

National Guard members cross a street in Washington, DC. Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images

SNAPSHOTS

The FBI is investigating whether a woman stole a laptop from Nancy Pelosi’s office and planned to sell it to Russia. Riley June Williams is facing charges related to entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct. According to an affidavit filed by the FBI, a person identified as Williams’ former romantic partner called the FBI tip line to identify her.

I lost my sense of smell in my twenties. Here’s my advice to COVID-19 survivors. Complications of COVID-19 have caused many people to lose their sense of smell. Jessica Garrison lost hers years ago and she has some suggestions on how to get by.

Far right troll “Baked Alaska” has been arrested over the coup attempt at the Capitol. His livestream of the insurrection, which showed the faces of many of the rioters, may be the reason many of them are being identified and arrested.

Kelly Clarkson opened up about the celebrities who were “rude” and “mean” to her when she first became famous. Clarkson shared the revelation while interviewing Jennifer Love Hewitt. She said, “people were really mean to us because we're from a talent show and it was the first season.”

ALTERNATIVE FACTS

The Trump movement’s break with reality will outlive his presidency

You’re reading this on the eve of Joe Biden’s inauguration. On Wednesday at noon, Biden will become the 46th president of the United States.

But while Trump may be on his way out, Rosie Gray reports that he “leaves behind a movement that appears to have made a decisive break with reality.”

You can see this at work in the aftermath of the Capitol riots and the processing of the violence that took place on Jan. 6. As Gray writes, “many Trump supporters immediately concluded that their side simply did not commit the violence, and that the incident was engineered to discredit them and Trump.”

Gray reports on how conspiracy theories about a stolen election brought the Trump movement to insurrection, and a further set of conspiracy theories will insulate it from reckoning with the consequences.

DRIVING TO THE TOP

Olivia Rodrigo on the success of “Drivers License” and getting advice from Niall Horan about fame

“Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo is truly everywhere. The song only came out a couple of weeks ago, and it took over the internet — from memes to streams, it is dominating.

The numbers back this up, too. It became the fastest song to surpass 100 million streams — it took only 8 days to do so. It also smashed Spotify’s record for most streams in a single day (17 million!).

Between getting an encouraging message from Taylor Swift and texting with Niall Horan, Rodrigo can barely keep up with her own success.

Take a moment to admire your capacity to cope with hard things,

Elamin