Newsletter: Today: ‘Embrace This Pain.’ First Monday in October.

I'm Davan Maharaj, editor of the Los Angeles Times. An Oregon town mourns its dead; the Supreme Court gets down to business. Here are some story lines I don't want you to miss today.

TOP STORIES

'Embrace This Pain'

The small timber town of Roseburg, Ore., is grappling with the aftermath of last week's deadly shooting. At Sunday services mourning the victims, a pastor offered comfort and suggested that congregants "embrace this pain." Meanwhile, the community is trying to make the shooter anonymous. As for attitudes about gun control, little has changed.

Trauma Center Tragedy

"The doors were closed. It was late, no one could get in or out. The only people inside at the time were us — the staff — and the patients." That's what one worker said after the bombing of a Doctors Without Borders hospital left more than 20 people dead in Kunduz, Afghanistan. The medical charity has closed the facility and is calling a suspected U.S. airstrike an apparent war crime.

First Monday in October

It's back to work for the Supreme Court today. The cases justices will hear revolve around abortion, unions and affirmative action, among many other hot-button issues. Veteran court watcher David G. Savage looks at the five most politically charged questions facing the court this term.   

California Economy Still Golden

Drought. High income taxes. Trouble in China. Despite it all, California's economy and job market are growing faster than the U.S. overall, according to forecasts. The trend is expected to continue. Here's why California continues to prosper despite the doomsayers.

OUR MUST-READS FROM THE WEEKEND

-- "Daddy, he began to shoot": A daughter's heart-rending account of the Oregon rampage.

-- Fleeing Syria: Refugees find an unwelcoming temporary home in Egypt. 

-- "Cyberbanging" drives a new generation of gang violence.

-- Time for a financial reality check to better prepare for whatever the markets bring.

-- Meet the neighbors who have a caged lion at their housewarming and a mural of themselves on their garage door.

-- The Dodgers have their fans wanting more, not more of the same.

-- What's the connection between the new Clifton's cafeteria and Google's rebranded logo?

CALIFORNIA

-- A Mono County doctor has been indicted on 21 felony counts related to the alleged looting of Native American artifacts. 

-- Sheriff's detectives said they foiled a plot by students to go on a shooting rampage at their high school near Yosemite National Park.

-- Civil rights advocates and police groups reacted to legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown that aims to protect minorities from racial profiling. 

-- Brown also signed a slew of bills related to human trafficking, mass transit and animal protection. 

NATION-WORLD

-- Amid the specter of a third intifada, Israel curbs access to Jerusalem's Old City.

-- Marco Rubio, surging in the polls, draws attacks from his onetime mentor Jeb Bush.

-- Thirty years after a massive Mexico City quake, hundreds still live in temporary camps.

-- China has invented a not-so-porky pig. 

BUSINESS 

-- With all these new apps and gadgets, why is U.S. productivity so sluggish?

-- Relativity Media founder Ryan Kavanaugh says he has won back the bulk of his bankrupt studio. 

SPORTS

-- On the final day of baseball's regular season, the Angels failed to make the playoffs and Clayton Kershaw looked strong in a Dodgers victory.

-- NFL kickers are gaining attention, but mostly for the wrong reasons. 

ENTERTAINMENT

-- Magic isn't cheap: A Disneyland annual pass with no blackout days now costs more than $1,000.

-- "The Martian" screenwriter explains why there are no villains, and much more. 

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- A former gun smuggler recounts his role in the failed revolution in Libya. (Foreign Policy)

-- The world would be a much richer place if more women had paying jobs. (The Economist)

-- Onetime pro ball player Adrian Cárdenas writes about seeing a friend lead the Cubs to the playoffs. (New Yorker)

ONLY IN L.A.

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.