Vaccine Bribes + Mask Mixed Messages + MGM/Amazon Sale Rumblings

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA —Happy Tuesday, Los Angeles County. It's a cool and beautiful week countywide.

This week, Los Angeles County will grapple with a mask mandate in conflict with CDC guidelines as well as new mask policies at a number of major retail chain stores. Firefighters continue to battle the Palisades Fire that displaced 1,000 people. A smoke advisory remains in place across the region through at least Tuesday afternoon. And is your favorite takeout the work of a ghost kitchen?

Here's a look at some of the stories we're following this week:

Tuesday's Weather:

Expect partly cloudy skies on Tuesday, with a high of 73 and a low of 57.

Patch Pick: A dognapped French Bulldog puppy was reunited with its owner following a dramatic police chase that ended with a crash and foot chase, but the suspect couldn't outrun a police drone (MORE on Patch).

Here are the top 5 stories in Los Angeles County today.

1. Ever wonder how the driver ahead of you on the 405 Freeway ever got a driver's license? That age-old question may have finally been answered by a federal investigation into a bribery scheme at two Los Angeles County DMV offices where employees accepted tens of thousands in bribes from drivers wanting to skip their driver's test. The Los Angeles Times's Michael Finnegan has the story (MORE).
2. Not all bribes are bad, however. One Los Angeles County city is offering a chance to win a Nintendo Switch or two free nights at a local hotel to residents who get the coronavirus vaccine this week (More).
3. Not all ghosts are bad either. It's a golden era for takeout and ghost kitchens are more popular than ever. Dog Haus Santa Monica is now making its gourmet hot dogs, sausages and burgers at its Westside ghost kitchen at the Colony, creating one more takeout and delivery option for the Westside (MORE).
4. Though it wouldn't even be the largest media deal on Monday (that would be the WarnerMedia/Discovery merger), news that Amazon is reportedly in talks to buy MGM for $9 billion touches a symbolic nerve. It's a giant of the digital era buying one of the world's oldest movie studios trying to adapt (MORE).
5. The Palisades Fire was 25 percent contained Monday night, and evacuation orders were lifted, but a column of smoke still rises from the brush, and one man faces arson charges in connection with the blaze. (MORE).

Featured Events to look forward to this week:

Online Series: Huntington Landscapes in Watercolor, Fridays at 9 a.m. starting May 28

• "Join artist and instructor Robert Sherrill for an eight-week virtual course on landscape painting in watercolor.

Why Not? - A virtual Art Show, Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.

• Los Angeles contemporary artist George Medici will live stream a studio broadcast of “Why Not?,” a virtual art show. Net proceeds of art sales from the show will benefit Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission, a nonprofit community organization serving greater Los Angeles.

Torrance Antique Street Faire, Sun, May 23 at 8:00 a.m.

• Join the hunt for vintage treasures when over 150 shoppers transform the streets of downtown Torrance into an eclectic open-air flea market! Antique Appraisal Booth - only $3.00 per item!

RESCUING 101: National Rescue Dog Day Virtual Adoption Event, Thursday, May 20 at 12:00 p.m.

• Learn tips on how to adopt a dog, explore the benefits of rescuing and join us for a live Q&A with Wagmor Pets founder and Celebrity Pet Matchmaker Melissa Bacelar.

OPENING: 'Ai Weiwei: Trace' Exhibit 2021: Skirball, Los Angeles

• The Skirball Cultural Center will resume indoor museum operations Saturday with the Southern California debut of Ai Weiwei: Trace. "Created by Ai Weiwei, one of China’s most provocative and socially engaged living artists, the installation features portraits made up of thousands of plastic LEGO® bricks, each assembled by hand and laid out on the floor.

See more on the Los Angeles calendar!

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~Paige

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Los Angeles County Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Los County Patch? Email all inquiries to me at paige.austin@patch.com.

About Paige Austin: I'm a SoCal native, a UCI grad, a mom, a news junkie, and a diehard Kings/Dodgers/Lakers fan, who's been covering the region my whole career.