Newsletter: Essential California: Keep your drone away from my wildfire

Good morning. It is Wednesday, July 22. Uber will try to buy your love, or at least your business, on Friday by delivering ice cream treats throughout Los Angeles. Here's what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

New minimum wage

Will Los Angeles County’s decision to raise the minimum wage be a tipping point for other jurisdictions? The move now puts some cities, like Torrance and Palmdale, which are unlikely to increase wages, at a competitive advantage. “I think the city of Glendale is fortunate enough to be in the situation where we can sit back and watch this measure take effect [in the city and county of Los Angeles] and actually have empirical evidence as to what the impact is,” said Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian. Los Angeles Times

Market crash

Chinese investors have become integral to the San Gabriel Valley’s economy, as they make all-cash offers on homes and build new, multi-level retail complexes. Yet the crash in the Chinese stock market, which lost $3 trillion, hasn’t been felt in an area so dependent on those investments. “Is the crash a big deal? I never heard that. It can’t be true,” said one man with the American Asia Travel Center. Los Angeles Times

14 and homeless

In San Bernardino County, 9% of public school children are homeless. This is the story of one of those children who found himself adrift at 14 after his family moved into a motel and his mother returned to jail. It’s a place where neglect, despair and drugs are a way of life. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT

Restrictions on the way: Angelenos may soon have to cut back to watering their lawns just two days a week. The Board of Water and Power Commissioners took the first step toward “Phase III” water restrictions, which would also include the recommended use of pool covers and a strong suggestion that vehicle owners go to commercial car washes. “I think this is a very sensible approach," commission President Mel Levine said. Los Angeles Times

Recycled water: Greywater systems can save homeowners water and money by reusing water from washing machines or bathroom showers on trees and plants in their yards. But the practice is shunned by the Department of Water and Power, even while it encourages homeowners to rip out their lawns as a means of saving water. LA Weekly

No water: In the poorer areas of Tulare County, some homes have run out of water. “Until we take problems like the drought more seriously, we’re going to continue to have unresolved water challenges,” said the president of the Pacific Institute. Fusion

Investing in water: Analysts believe water utilities are in growth mode, and that could make them attractive investments. “When a region is in conservation mode, less water is used but regulatory mechanisms ensure that utilities still get paid — as volumes go down, the authorized rate of return is maintained.” CNBC

L.A. AT LARGE

New police video: Video of Los Angeles police using a Taser and firing beanbags at a homeless man in a wheelchair is drawing criticism from skid row advocates. Police said they responded Friday morning to reports of a man swinging a pole. “Beanbags and Tasers, that could not be the only options. This is how you de-escalate when the man is just sitting there?” said one man with the L.A. Community Action Network. Los Angeles Times

Multicultural neighborhood: The Boyle Heights area has been referred to as the city’s Ellis Island, often reflecting the changing demographics of Los Angeles. A new documentary examines what Boyle Heights means to the city. Curbed LA

Mysterious arsenal: There’s a strange case unfolding in Pacific Palisades. Last week, police found a man’s decomposing body in a car parked down the street from his house. Once police entered the home, they found more than 1,200 firearms, ammunition, scopes and books on hunting and guns. Los Angeles Times

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

University raises: The California State University system will give raises to its top 30 executives, including 23 campus presidents. The president of the California Faculty Assn. called the move “tone deaf” because it comes as professors and lecturers are in contract negotiations with the university system. Sacramento Bee

Campus expansion: Officials with UC Merced presented a $1-billion plan Tuesday to expand the 10-year-old campus, arguing that doing so could allow more Californians to be admitted into the university system. The expansion could also help attract more students from the Central Valley, a region that has historically been underrepresented in the UC. Los Angeles Times

TRANSPORTATION

No fly zone: Keep your drone away from emergencies. That’s the word from two state lawmakers who want to make it legal for first responders to shoot down drones that interfere with emergency operations. “Just because you have access to an expensive toy that can fly in a dangerous area doesn’t mean you should do it,” said Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Glendale). Los Angeles Times

Fewer bus riders: Fewer people are riding buses in Orange County. Boardings dropped 30% from 2004 to 2014, according to the Orange County Transportation Authority. There’s a variety of reasons behind the decrease. Undocumented immigrants can now get a driver’s license. Many riders find it cheaper and faster to ride a bicycle. And there are complaints that the buses are unreliable. Orange County Register

SCIENCE

Foreign invader: An invasive beetle that likely made its way here in packing material from Southeast Asia is infecting trees throughout Southern California. On the campus of UC Irvine, scientists noticed tiny holes in the trees beginning last year. The infestation could take out hundreds and hundreds of trees on the campus. 89.3 KPCC (audio)

Ugly fruits: Stop being superficial … when it comes to your produce. Embracing fruits that have “limb rubs” and other imperfections could help the environment by cutting back on food waste. “A lot of that fruit has good value, there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just a little cosmetically challenged, like all of us,” said Chuck Baker, a pear farmer near the Sacramento Delta. KQED (audio)

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Blaxicans of L.A.: Los Angeles is known for its racial and ethnic diversity but a new Instagram account hopes to bring attention to the lives of Angelenos who are mixed. In this case, Angelenos who are both Latino and African American. “There's something special about you being able to sometimes seamlessly navigate different worlds,” said Walter Hernandez-Thompson with the USC Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration. Los Angeles Times (photo gallery)

Seventh-inning stretch: It was Oct. 15, 1981, when cheerleader “Krazy” George Henderson turned to the crowd at an Oakland A’s game, motioned with his hands and created “the wave.” And because it was created across the Bay, San Francisco Giants fans have never embraced the cheer. KQED (video)

New home: There are plenty of places to live in California that aren’t Los Angeles or San Francisco. Do you like pot? Head to Mendocino County. Would some describe you as a “poor weirdo"? Bakersfield, Fresno or Stockton may be for you. Ratter

More cashew cheese? The 21 best places to eat in L.A. if you’re a vegan. Buzzfeed

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Francisco will have low clouds and 69 degrees. In Riverside, the day will start with clouds before the sun breaks through and temperatures reach 83 degrees. Los Angeles will have low clouds and 80 degrees. San Diego will also start with some clouds before reaching 77 degrees.

AND FINALLY

A road trip from Michigan to California is hardly newsworthy, but make that same trip in an original Model T and now you’ve got people’s attention. Members of the Historic Vehicle Assn. are re-creating Edsel Ford’s 1915 road trip across the country. Traveling at just 35 mph, they’re expected to arrive in San Francisco on Aug. 18.

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.