California enters July 4 weekend with many beaches closed

JOHN ANTCZAK and JOCELYN GECKER

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) - California headed into the Fourth of July weekend Friday under classic sunny summer skies and new health orders that temporarily put many popular beaches off-limits and canceled fireworks shows in an effort to prevent runaway coronavirus infections.

A few surfers were in the water off Los Angeles' famed Venice Beach and a few dozen people strolled the boardwalk or shoreline, but the normal Independence Day throngs were missing from the long expanse of sparkling sand.

"This is going to be a different summer and this is going to...