Newsletter: Essential California: Bullet train’s new route

Good morning. It is Friday, Feb. 19. The rivalry between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates will soon be on Broadway in “Nerds.” Here’s what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

Train’s tracks

The first leg of California’s bullet train will be built in Northern California, not in Southern California as originally planned. High construction costs and political opposition were cited as primary reasons for pursuing the San Jose to Bakersfield line rather than the Fresno to Burbank section. The latest cost estimate for the 500-mile project is $64 billion. Los Angeles Times

Leak sealed

State officials say the massive gas leak in Porter Ranch has come to an end. The announcement means thousands of families must prepare to move back home. Gas crews are now tasked with inspecting the 114 other wells at Aliso Canyon. “I know there is nothing that I can say that will change the past, but I know that measurable actions actually speak louder than words,” said Dennis Arriola, president and chief executive of Southern California Gas. Los Angeles Times

Fight is on

Many of the top tech firms in Silicon Valley appear to be siding with Apple in its battle with the FBI over a court order requiring the computer giant to help with the San Bernardino terrorism investigation. In a sign of how the case could be historic, Apple has hired Ted Olson and Theodore J. Boutrous Jr., two of the lead lawyers who successfully challenged California’s previous ban on same-sex marriage. One expert called the showdown “a new frontier.” Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Snowy weather: The snow has returned to Northern California, leaving experts cautiously optimistic that this could turn around the state drought. Last year, the area had just 5% of the normal water content. “We’re way ahead of last year, and it’s only going to get better,” said Janet Tuttle, who runs Donner Ski Ranch. Los Angeles Times

Boom. Crash: How much snow are the Sierras getting? Well, an avalanche hit a bus and sent it 30 feet into a house. SFGate

Unsafe conditions: A Pacifica apartment building was torn down Thursday by crews who wanted to get to the property before the elements did. Bluffs there have been slowly eroding. “The demolition was new, but the commotion was not, considering the three apartment buildings have been endangered and slipping closer to oblivion for years.” SFGate

L.A. AT LARGE

DWP reform: Mayor Eric Garcetti says he supports using the ballot to reform the Department of Water and Power, but he doesn’t like the proposed measure backed by some members of the L.A. City Council. Mainly, Garcetti said he believes the mayor should have the ability to hire and fire the utility’s general manager and its commissioners. “I think this is a once-in-a-generation chance. I’m sick of the studies, and it’s time to take action for the ratepayers,” Garcetti said. Los Angeles Times

Housing proposal: Developers who want to be exempted from the city’s zoning and planning laws could be required to build affordable housing under a new ballot measure proposal backed by the L.A. County Federation of Labor. The measure could appear on the Nov. 8 ballot. That would put it in competition with a second measure that seeks a temporary moratorium on mega-developments. Los Angeles Times

Old Hollywood: Preservationists are celebrating the architectural gems of Hollywood. It’s a neighborhood that’s now seeing unprecedented development, and a recent presentation drew more than 100 to the Egyptian Theatre. “They had come to hear about buildings demolished in the name of development and about others left standing but ruined by changes that had stripped away their essence.” Los Angeles Times

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Drinking water: Columnist Robin Abcarian went to Stockton, where environmentalist Erin Brockovich had just swept through town to warn residents about their water supply. The visit, however, brought about more political than scientific facts. Los Angeles Times

Security measures: Sen. Ted Cruz believes Apple should absolutely help FBI agents unlock a cellphone used by the terrorists who killed 14 people in San Bernardino last December. “I think we can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can protect ourselves from terrorism and also protect our civil rights,” he said. BuzzFeed

CRIME AND COURTS

Negligence alleged: The developer of a downtown Los Angeles apartment complex that burned to the ground in 2014 was sued by the city of Los Angeles Thursday for $20 million. The City Attorney’s Office accused Geffrey H. Palmer and his company of failing to have an appropriate fire plan in place. The 75,000-square-foot development was still under construction when it was destroyed in a fire allegedly set by a 56-year-old taxi driver. Los Angeles Times

Sentencing recommendation: The U.S. Attorney’s Office is recommending that former state Sen. Leland Yee spend eight years behind bars for felony racketeering. Authorities also want him to have three years supervised release and a $25,000 fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced next week. Sacramento Bee

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Young and free: Meet the generation of Chinese “rich kids” who are making Los Angeles, Vancouver and other cities their playgrounds. It reflects the globalization of wealth — and how excess feels like reality TV in many cultures. The New Yorker

Millions on the line: Who bought a winning lottery ticket in Chino Hills? California Lottery officials say they don’t yet know who the lucky ticket holder may be. Is it you? The winning numbers were: 04-08-19-27-34, and the Powerball number was 10. Daily Bulletin

Fire fall: These pictures make it look as though fire is flowing down the Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park. KTLA

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Diego will be partly sunny with a high of 67 degrees. Los Angeles will be mostly sunny and 67. In Riverside, it will be sunny and 69 degrees. Sacramento will be cloudy and rainy with a high of 59. There will be rains and clouds in San Francisco, with a high of 59.

AND FINALLY

Today’s California Memory comes from Ronald Stone:

“My earliest memory of California was a cross-country road trip when I was 9 years old during the summer of 1976. My Grandma was driving along the coast from Southern California to the Peninsula of the San Francisco Bay Area. I remember a highway high above the rocky Pacific Coast. At one place on the highway, several meters above the rocky shore, part of the outer lane had collapsed. As we continued slowly past, on the left I could look almost directly down below to waves crashing against the rocks at the base of the cliff.”

If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.)

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Alice Walton or Shelby Grad.