Newsletter: How Scientology’s neighborhood in L.A. voted for Trump
“La La Land” is a departure from Lionsgate’s typical fare. Have the women’s marches started a movement? In the presidential election, just seven of L.A.’s 1,700 precincts went for Trump. It’s Round 2 of confirmation hearings for U.S. Rep. Tom Price.
Good morning. It’s Tuesday, Jan. 24, and here’s what’s happening across California:
Scientology and the election
In a sea of Hillary Clinton blue last November, it turns out a little chunk of Hollywood best known for the Church of Scientology’s sprawling complex went red, picking Donald Trump instead. Scientology officials say there was no concerted effort to elect Trump. In the neighborhood, there was some surprise at the results. Examine the Times analysis. Los Angeles Times
South L.A.’s ‘Woody Allen’
Actress and writer Issa Rae — creator of the HBO series “Insecure” — grew up in South Los Angeles, but in a different world from the bullets and body counts that Hollywood portrayed. Back in the 1990s, gang violence exploded and the Southside burned during the days of rioting. Popular culture reflected the tough times through movies such as “Boyz N the Hood” and “Menace II Society.” “The way that Woody Allen depicts New York, I want to be like Woody Allen for L.A., and South L.A. specifically,” Rae said. Los Angeles Times
Climatic turnaround
The science behind why L.A. went from high and dry to wet and wild in just six months. Los Angeles Times
L.A. STORIES
L.A. lost by winning: “A billion dollars is about to be wasted on a project whose dubious artistic mission could have been turned into something useful — and even profound. Instead, an ugly stepsister’s foot is being jammed into a fragile glass slipper.” — Times art critic Christopher Knight on how L.A. lost by winning George Lucas’ museum. Los Angeles Times
Old school: Gill’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream in the Original Farmers Market is closing amid reports from the longtime owners that the famed food mart felt their shop was a little too old-fashioned. Eater Los Angeles
Art of murder: Meet the forensic artist from El Segundo who helps police around the nation solve cold cases. And his day job is being an accountant. Daily News
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
Calexit wave? A surprising number of Californians like the idea of the state exiting the U.S., according to a Reuters poll. Reuters
Arnold speaks out: President Trump’s nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency had no shortage of critics before his confirmation hearing last week, but his suggestion that he might restrict California’s fight against climate change provoked heavyweight ire from former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Los Angeles Times
The valley waits: Silicon Valley is nervous amid reports that Trump might make big changes to the H-1B visa program. Mercury News
March numbers: By this data measurement, 1 in 45 Californians took part in the women’s march Saturday. Sacramento Bee
Becerra in: The state Senate on Monday voted 26-9 in favor of final confirmation of Rep. Xavier Becerra as California’s attorney general, putting on watch a veteran politician who has promised to block efforts by President Trump to roll back state policies on immigration, civil rights and the environment. Los Angeles Times
CRIME AND COURTS
Big payout: A wrongful conviction for murder finally made right. Los Angeles Times
Fire theory: A new and controversial theory on a possible cause of the deadly Ghost Ship fire in Oakland. East Bay Times
Rapper charged: Soulja Boy was charged Monday with illegally possessing a military-style automatic pistol and a handgun that was stolen from a Huntington Beach Police Department vehicle. Los Angeles Times
Hate investigation: Authorities have launched a hate crime investigation after a woman allegedly shattered half a dozen windows and placed strips of bacon on a door handle of a Davis mosque. Los Angeles Times
DROUGHT AND CLIMATE
Deadly toll: Authorities launched separate recovery efforts Monday in Northern and Southern California for the bodies of two people who were swept away by fast-moving water during the weekend’s intense rains. Los Angeles Times
Ruins ruined: The famed ruins of the “Cement Ship” off the coast of Aptos were battered by the recent storms. Now the big question: What to do with the mess? Mercury News
Is it over yet? When is the right time for now-wet California to ease drought restrictions? San Diego Union-Tribune
CALIFORNIA CULTURE
On the docks: The remarkable story of the sea lions who colonized Pier 39 in San Francisco after the 1989 quake — and made it their home. SF Gate
Doomsday preppers: California’s super-rich are preparing for the worst: natural and manmade disaster. “If the world ends — and not even if the world ends, but if we have trouble — getting contacts or glasses is going to be a huge pain in the ass,” the co-founder and C.E.O. of Reddit said of his recent laser eye surgery. The New Yorker
Health is No. 1: For one Orange County surfer, it’s all about getting through the pain. Orange County Register
On the case: Meet San Francisco’s history detective. You can find her at the library. San Francisco Chronicle
Chargers out, soccer in? A $200-million soccer stadium as part of a $1-billion redevelopment of the Qualcomm Stadium property in San Diego’s Mission Valley was proposed Monday with a citizens ballot initiative drive as the vehicle to bring it about. San Diego Union-Tribune
CALIFORNIA ALMANAC
Los Angeles area: Partly cloudy with highs in the upper 50s. San Diego: Scattered showers with highs in the mid-50s. San Francisco area and Sacramento: Partly cloudy with highs in the low 50s. More weather is here.
AND FINALLY
Today’s California memory comes from Kate Zentall Forward:
“I came to L.A. from N.Y. in 1977 for the summer only, to escape a rut and seek work as an actress. A buddy proudly fetched me from LAX in a borrowed Porsche, but New Yorker me was unimpressed; a car was a car. I rented a mud-colored beauty from Bundy Rent-a-Wreck and loved observing the road below from a hole in the floor. With my indispensable Thomas Guide, I navigated canyons, boulevards and freeways, and could get anywhere in town in 20 minutes and never had to factor in parking at auditions. The freedom of the road was exhilarating. I’ve been here ever since.”
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.)
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