Newsletter: Essential California: This way to the fountain of youth

Good morning. It is Tuesday, July 14. When Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush visits San Francisco this week, he'll try to act like a local and call Uber. Here's what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

Prison healthcare

Nearly a decade ago, a California prison inmate died nearly every week of a preventable cause. That’s when the federal government stepped in to reduce prison overcrowding and oversee inmates’ medical care. Now, state officials will once again control healthcare at Folsom State Prison. It’s a sign of how much the corrections system has changed under the eye of federal authorities. Los Angeles Times

Reevaluating crime policy

State lawmakers may roll back another anti-crime policy from the 1980s. A proposal under consideration would limit police's ability to seize the property and homes of suspects who have not been charged with a crime. “The bipartisan backing reflects the national debate in which figures from both left and right have been calling for changes in the criminal justice system.” Los Angeles Times

Gas prices

The price of gas in Los Angeles jumped 40 cents a gallon over the weekend, but relief may already be on the way. Prices are expected to taper back down by Wednesday. The price increase was the result of trouble at refineries and the special blend of gas California uses for the environment. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT

Agriculture uses: Food author Mark Bittman offers some words of wisdom on the guilt that may come with eating meat raised in California. “A lot of that water consumption isn’t direct drinking water for cattle, but the raising of feed. And you need to feed a cow a lot to make it weigh 1,200 pounds. There is legitimate grass-fed beef raised in California, and I think that’s probably OK,” he said. Wired

Drinking water: Park officials closed a hiking trail in Joshua Tree National Park so the region’s bighorn sheep and mountain lions can range farther in their search for water. A portion of 49 Palms Oasis Trail will remain closed until Southern California gets significant rainfall. 89.3 KPCC

Life without water: What happens when wells run dry? This video shows a glimpse of life in East Porterville. Boing Boing (video)

Crop losses: Water officials with the Byron Bethany Irrigation District estimate their area of the Central Valley will lose 500 jobs and $65 million in crops unless state authorities allow their water to be turned back on. “This is happening right in the middle of growing season ... so it couldn’t come at a worse time,” said the district’s general manager. Wall Street Journal

L.A. AT LARGE

Fountain of youth: East of Los Angeles, in the community of Loma Linda, residents are living significantly longer than the average Californian. And the reason is no mystery. It’s populated with Seventh-day Adventists, who refrain from smoking, drinking and eating meat, focus on exercise, and live with a sense of purpose. Los Angeles Times

Highway safety: The city of Malibu is undertaking 120 projects that officials believe will make the iconic Pacific Coast Highway a safer thoroughfare. In the first six months of this year, four people died in 117 crashes on the city's stretch of PCH. “Part of Malibu's problem, most planners and locals agree, is the unusual mix of uses and users along the stretch: commuters, tourists, surfers, workers and parents ferrying kids to soccer practice or school.” Los Angeles Times

Understanding fears: On Los Angeles' Westside, wealthy, educated parents led the movement against vaccinations for their children. Those parents were concerned that there would be negative consequences from the vaccine, but most of those fears were not based on science. Instead, they were linked to the parents' desire to feel protective. “They fear that if they allow their kids to get the shot, something bad will happen, and the onus will be on them,” said one mom with the pro-vaccine movement. L.A. Weekly

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Social services: This is an example of just how challenging it can be to connect residents with social programs - homeless families who live on the grounds of the Orange County Civic Center have never talked to a social worker. “The grandkids will soon get to hug grandma and pray for her while she sleeps on the streets at night. They’ll hope to see her again in the morning.” Voice of O.C.

Expanded Medi-Cal: A bill that will provide health insurance to California children who are in the country illegally could pave the way for extending that care to their parents. “Momentum is really building in California to finish the job and cover all residents, regardless of age,” said the co-president of the Children’s Partnership. Kaiser Health News

CRIME AND COURTS

Kidnapping arrest: It appears Vallejo police were wrong when they suggested that the kidnapping of a 29-year-old woman was a hoax. A 38-year-old Orangevale man was arrested for allegedly abducting Denise Huskins. Los Angeles Times

Reproductive question: A divorced couple are batting over frozen embryos in a San Francisco court. The case of Mimi Lee and Stephen Findley goes beyond Lee’s desire to implant the embryos and Findley’s request to destroy them. The case will “test the enforceability of consent agreements couples sign before obtaining reproductive technology and likely will make new law in California.” Los Angeles Times

SPORTS

All-star after all: Yes, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw will play in tonight's All-Star game. He’ll replace a player from the Washington Nationals. This means he’ll avoid being the first reigning MVP to miss the game since teammate Jimmy Rollins did so in 2008. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

The Big One: The Cascadia subduction zone stretches from Cape Mendocino in Northern California to Vancouver Island. When it ruptures one day, it could be the worst natural disaster to ever hit North America. “FEMA projects that nearly thirteen thousand people will die in the Cascadia earthquake and tsunami. Another twenty-seven thousand will be injured, and the agency expects that it will need to provide shelter for a million displaced people, and food and water for another two and a half million.” The New Yorker

Romantic rental: The house with the chandelier tree is a landmark in Los Angeles' Silver Lake neighborhood. Now for just $900 a month, you can rent a room there. The homeowner says that price includes pancakes in the morning. LAist (photo gallery)

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Francisco will have low clouds then sun at 71 degrees. Riverside will be mostly sunny and 89 degrees. In Los Angeles it will be mostly sunny and 80. San Diego will have a high of 74 degrees and sunshine.

AND FINALLY

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) found out the hard way she should have brought earplugs to the Hamptons. Late-night revealers kept the politician up until 4 a.m.

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.