Newsletter: Key questions remain a year after the San Bernardino terrorist attack
Good morning. It’s Friday, Dec. 2, and here’s what’s going on across California:
TOP STORIES
Unanswered questions
In the year since the San Bernardino terrorist attack, authorities have conducted more than 600 interviews, gathered more than 500 pieces of evidence and served dozens of search warrants. Despite piecing together a detailed picture of what happened, federal officials acknowledge they still don’t have answers to some of the critical questions posed in the days after the Dec. 2 attack. Los Angeles Times
Political earthquake
California will have its first Latino attorney general, as Gov. Jerry Brown tapped House Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra of Los Angeles to replace U.S. Senate-bound Kamala Harris. The choice surprised even Becerra and is something of an earthquake in California politics. Becerra has long been seen as a rising star in Democratic circles and was considered a contender to be Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential pick. Los Angeles Times
Garcetti’s big pivot
Before election day, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti didn’t hold back when it came to Donald Trump: “He’s a racist. He’s a bigot. He’s sexist.” But since Trump won the election, Garcetti is taking a more cordial tone with the president-elect, forced in part by necessity. It’s a delicate and politically perilous balancing act. Los Angeles Times
L.A. STORIES
Reprieve for P-45: The mountain lion known as P-45 is suspected of recently slaughtering 10 alpacas, an act that prompted the alpacas’ owner to get a permit from the state to kill P-45. But wildlife activists and local ranchers in the Malibu hills have persuaded her to seek other options. Los Angeles Times
I love L.A.: L.A. has received a different kind of love letter from comedian Issa Rae and her HBO show “Insecure.” BuzzFeed
Crumbling ruins: Many stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame are in a state of disrepair, prompting concerns from fans and questions about money. Hollywood Reporter
Money exit: The former head of a San Fernando Valley charter school, who resigned abruptly amid scrutiny over the school’s finances, will receive $215,000. Daily News
Silver Lake rising: Riverside Drive in Silver Lake is becoming increasingly residential, with a new development planned there. The Eastsider
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
Ultimatum in Paramount: In a dramatic move, L.A. County health officials ordered two Paramount metal-processing plants Thursday to stop emissions of hexavalent chromium or shut down operations contributing to high levels of the cancer-causing air pollutant. The move comes amid growing community concern about the health effects of the emissions. Los Angeles Times
Leaving? How likely is the California secession movement to work? Experts say there is a chance but it remains highly, highly unlikely. Sacramento Bee
Pasadena bank autopsy: Trump’s nominee to be Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, is likely to face a lot of questions about a Pasadena bank that failed during the 2008 financial crisis and how he benefited. Wall Street Journal
CRIME AND COURTS
Murder mystery: A shotgun on the beach and a bounced check are key clues to the Hollywood murder of a young woman, a prosecutor says. Los Angeles Times
Last words: An Oakland teen spoke out against gun violence. Then he became a victim of it. San Francisco Chronicle
Social media: A Facebook post, a woman’s loyalty to her brother and allegations of witness tampering. Now, Sylvia Castro Garcia is headed to prison. Fresno Bee
Original activism: Decades before Black Lives Matter, there were the Black Panthers in Oakland. Los Angeles Times
DROUGHT AND CLIMATE
A big job: The costly, complicated effort to save San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento Delta. CALmatters
Marine mystery: So what is up with that rare killer whale off the Orange County coast? Orange County Register
CALIFORNIA CULTURE
Juice of life: What the success of L.A.’s Moon Juice empire says about consumerism and self-enlightenment. The New Yorker
Light it up: San Diego is known for its beaches and sun. But British artist Peter Fink wants to light up the city at night — using a lot of lights. His plan starts with illuminating the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, but that’s just the beginning. San Diego Union-Tribune
Next chapter: What happens when movie moguls become mere mortals. It can be tough — or refreshing. New York Times
House hunter: The famous “Full House” home in San Francisco recently sold for $4 million. Who bought the Victorian landmark? The TV sitcom’s creator, Jeff Franklin. SFist
CALIFORNIA ALMANAC
Los Angeles: Dry, cold Santa Ana winds will heighten fire danger through Saturday. San Francisco: Clouds by Sunday with highs in the 60s. Sacramento: Cloudy weekend with a chance of rain late next week.
AND FINALLY
Today’s California memory comes from Ed McSpedon:
“I came to California from New York with my wife and our 5-year-old daughter in December 1983. We rented a townhome in Calabasas Park for what was to be a one-year assignment managing the engineering of a segment of L.A.’s planned new subway. One day I took a break in the afternoon and hit our community hot tub for a dip, something that was impossible in New York. There was only one other person using the spa that day, a handsome older gentleman who welcomed me to the neighborhood and introduced himself as Clayton Moore, a.k.a. the Lone Ranger. Well, as a child of the ’50s he was my No. 1 boyhood hero! We shared an incredible hourlong conversation where my hero was transformed into my new friend and neighbor. Thirty-plus years later we are still here and are now frequent riders of L.A.’s expansive rail transit system. Over the years I have had hundreds of celebrity encounters, but none was as memorable as that first one in the spa on that winter afternoon.”
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 Shelby Grad.
