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Newsletter: Essential California: Earplugs for California inmates

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Good morning. It is Friday, Sept. 18. Stay cool this weekend with the ultimate guide to Los Angeles' ice cream and gelato shops. Here's what is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

California mojo

Carly Fiorina, the former Silicon Valley executive, was seen by many as the winner of Wednesday's GOP debate, especially in her duels with Donald Trump. But questions remain about whether the Californian can translate this attention into lasting momentum. In general, her campaign is underfunded, and many believe that she needs more money and better organization to compete in early primaries and caucuses. Los Angeles Times

Free speech versus hate speech

A different kind of Free Speech movement is now roiling the University of California. UC officials are grappling with how to discourage prejudice without discouraging free expression. A proposed new policy against intolerance was criticized by some regents and Jewish groups as too weak in dealing with what they contend are rising numbers of anti-Semitic incidents on campuses. Others complained that it went too far. Other universities are grappling with the same issue: Increasingly multicultural universities want to be seen as a welcoming place for all students. Los Angeles Times

Bullet train to Vegas via China?

Can the Chinese do what generations of dreamers have tried to do but failed? Officials for XpressWest announced that the company has formed a partnership with China Railway International USA -- a consortium led by China Railway, the national railroad of the People's Republic of China -- to build a bullet train from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Backers say they can start work by the end of next year. But there are many unanswered questions about financing, among other things. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT

Benefits of rain: The record rainfall from earlier this week is now a memory. But some are wondering where all that precious water went. From 80% to 90% of the rain that falls in the urban Southland winds up in a vast storm drain system that eventually dumps it into the ocean. So it was no drought buster. But there were other benefits: Rain contains nitrogen and can act as nature's fertilizer. It cleans the air of dust and pollen, which can help temporarily relieve people suffering from allergies. Los Angeles Times

Pro pot: Would legalizing marijuana ease California's drought? That's the claim of some advocates, who note that marijuana requires more water than many other local crops. Moreover, illicit growing operations often divert water from rivers, causing environmental problems. Legalization, they say, would bring better practices and more conservation. Rolling Stone

No laughing matters: "I'm aware that California has a drought, so I made sure I brought my own water." That's how Sen. Marco Rubio started off the Republican debate in Simi Valley. Aside from that joke, however, the state's severe drought and raging wildfires didn't receive mentions. Think Progress

Fire weather: There's a new danger on the horizon for evacuees of the Valley and Butte fires -- a heat wave. The higher temperatures will increase fire dangers, though the winds are expected to die down. Los Angeles Times

L.A. AT LARGE

Young parishioners: The Los Angeles Archdiocese is hoping to connect with young Catholics through social media. Archbishop Jose Gomez even likened Facebook to the Gospels during a Google Hangout session. Los Angeles Times

New look: The final metal ribbon had barely made it onto the outside of the revamped Petersen Automotive Museum before one critic declared that he didn't like the new look. "The Petersen is giving us the Guy Fieri of buildings. Obnoxious, loud, and, ultimately, sure to be inexplicably embraced by the public." Curbed LA

Road rage: Leave it to a child to call out the poor behavior of adults. It happened this week as residents discussed why they dislike the Silver Lake "road diet," which slowed vehicular traffic and made way for bicycles. "If motorists acted towards women, or another group of people, the way you act towards cyclists, people would be horrified by your hateful words and violent actions. I don't understand why driving a car makes you think you're more important than someone else. You're not," said the 11-year-old who spoke at the meeting. LAist

CRIME AND COURTS

Identity revealed: Earlier this week, when the owner of two luxury cars got in trouble for racing them through a quiet Beverly Hills neighborhood, he claimed diplomatic immunity. Now, it turns out he was Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad al Thani of Qatar's ruling family. He did not have diplomatic immunity, and he has left the country. Los Angeles Times

Apology sought: A couple who were accused by police of faking a violent kidnapping have filed a claim against the city of Vallejo for what they call "false and unfair accusations" made by police. According to an attorney for Denise Huskins, "before ever seeing or speaking with Denise, and without a shred of evidence in support of their preconceived conclusion," police treated her "like the criminal they refused to pursue." Los Angeles Times

Keep it down: Inmates at Pelican Bay State Prison are getting earplugs. That's because prison guards are now required to do welfare checks every half-hour, and inmates say the resulting noise keeps them up all night. Sacramento Bee

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Disney guide: This guide will show you the fastest way to get through Disneyland's 11 most popular rides. Orange County Register

Pointed tweet: Teenage inventor Ahmed Mohamed was arrested after a teacher at his Texas school mistakenly thought his homemade clock was a bomb, spurring accusations of racism and the #IStandWithAhmed campaign in social media. The hubbub inspired one tweeter to dig up a picture of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in a garage circa the 1970s. SFGate 

In the pictures: Downtown Los Angeles' Clifton's Cafeteria is about to reopen. In honor of that, here's a reminder of the restaurant's many appearances on the big and small screens. Los Angeles Magazine

New look: Cupertino, a hub of the tech industry that is home to Apple Inc., saw its 1970s-vintage mall fall on hard times (in part because more shoppers turned to the Internet to make their purchases). Now the developer wants to remake the mall into a vast mixed-use complex, including a 30-acre green roof. Gizmodo

GOLDEN STATE PERSPECTIVES

Turn on your sprinklers: Their hearts might be in the right place, but those admonishing homeowners to stop watering their yards and instead let our trees, lawns and shrubs wither because of the drought are shortsighted, landscaping experts Donald R. Hodel and Dennis R. Pittenger write. Our urban landscape provides numerous benefits, many of them environmental, and letting plants die would save only a minuscule amount of the total water used in California. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Diego will be sunny and 80 degrees. In Los Angeles, there will be lots of sunshine and 87 degrees. Riverside is expected to reach a high of 82 degrees. San Francisco will be 72 degrees.

AND FINALLY

Today's California Memory comes from Brian Collins:

"We moved to California when our daughter was 5. As we traveled and saw the beauty and diversity of the state over the next four years, she and I had a call-and-response game. I'd say 'We sure are lucky' and she would respond 'that we moved to California.' In addition to fishing the Sierra, skiing at Big Bear and camping on the Lost Coast, she was an extra in the remake of 'The Parent Trap.' Only in California."

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 Alice Walton or Shelby Grad.

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