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Newsletter: Essential California: Lessons learned up North helped in battling Southern California infernos

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Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It is Saturday, Dec. 16. Here’s what you don’t want to miss this weekend:

TOP STORIES

Taking stock of fire season

The wine country fires that ravaged Northern California in October and the firestorm in Southern California this month have capped the most destructive year for fires in state history. The wine country fires have been far more destructive, killing 41 people and wiping out more than 10,000 homes. By contrast, the Southern California fires destroyed about 1,000 homes and left two people dead, with the massive Thomas fire continuing to rage amid strong winds. Southern California took key lessons from the disaster to the north. Issues that have caused so much debate since the wine country fires — a lack of communication and warnings, limited firefighting resources and the possible role of electric lines in sparking the blazes — were addressed in the early stages of the Southland fires. Los Angeles Times

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Fallen firefighter: Cory Iverson, a fire apparatus engineer, died on the Thomas fire lines on Thursday. He had been with Cal Fire since 2009. The San Diego County resident is survived by his wife, Ashley, and a 2-year-old daughter. Los Angeles Times

Plus: In Northern California, forgotten victims of the wildfires are struggling to regain their footing. Los Angeles Times

Wow: These maps show how the Thomas fire is larger than many U.S. cities. Los Angeles Times

Watching the watchdog

If there’s a clear mantra for Consumer Watchdog, one of California’s most visible and vocal advocacy groups, it’s that hidden financial relationships shouldn’t shape politics and public policy. The Santa Monica-based nonprofit has spent more than three decades reprimanding politicians and interest groups for doing the bidding of those who give them money. Its official motto is “expose, confront, change.” That voice, though, is funded by donors who are largely shielded from public view. Some of its money, according to a Los Angeles Times review of federal tax documents, was donated through a nonprofit operated at the time by Chris Lehane, an influential political strategist and corporate consultant. Los Angeles Times

More on the Disney deal

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Disney would gain a majority stake in Hulu if it succeeds in acquiring key pieces of 21st Century Fox. That would give the streaming service a serious boost at a time when it’s finally enjoying critical success. Analysts say Netflix should be afraid. Los Angeles Times

AROUND CALIFORNIA

Sweet gig: When Baldwin Park rehired Michael Taylor as its police chief, the city included a provision in his contract that makes him exceedingly difficult to fire. Taylor can only be terminated from his $234,000-a-year job, according to the agreement, if he commits a felony. Baldwin Park leaders also prohibited themselves from giving Taylor annual performance evaluations. The agreement allows the council to place Taylor on administrative leave — but with pay. Los Angeles Times

Around the corner: California will begin licensing recreational marijuana sales next month. But most people won’t see pot shops in their city anytime soon. Los Angeles Times

RIP: Hilda Eisen, Holocaust survivor, California entrepreneur and philanthropist, dies at 100. Los Angeles Times

Powerful: Check out this incredible photo series from the Associated Press’ Jae C. Hong on how drugs rule skid row in Los Angeles. Associated Press

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Deadly shooting: Two men were killed in an early-morning shooting in Panorama City, Los Angeles police said Friday. Around 3:20 a.m., Mission Division officers responded to the area of Van Nuys Boulevard and Chase Street after multiple shots were reported, LAPD Officer Drake Madison said. Los Angeles Times

Sign of the times: “In a sign that the Bay Area’s housing shortage has reached new heights, even having a boatload of cash now may not be enough to land your dream home.” The Mercury News

Randy’s Donuts, the Inglewood doughnut shop known for its gigantic rooftop sculpture and frequent appearances in pop culture, is expanding south to El Segundo next year. Daily Breeze

THIS WEEK’S MOST POPULAR STORIES IN ESSENTIAL CALIFORNIA

1. The Bel-Air fire displays L.A.’s extremes of wealth and misery. Los Angeles Times

2. Veteran newsman Steve Edwards leaves “Good Day L.A.” Los Angeles Times

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3. Winds, terrain and fuel: Why the Thomas fire has been difficult to contain. Los Angeles Times

4. Why the Getty Center’s art stayed put as fires raged nearby. The New York Times

5. Fire at a homeless encampment sparked Bel-Air blaze that destroyed homes, officials say. Los Angeles Times

ICYMI, HERE ARE THIS WEEK’S GREAT READS

Far from the club: Once ostracized in clubs, hip-hop is ruling the festival circuit. There have, of course, been successful hip-hop festivals before, notably Rock the Bells. But the newer festivals are no nostalgic genre-trip. They are an accurate assessment of what young fans are listening to, in a format pioneered by EDM. And Rolling Loud — which debuts in Southern California this weekend — is, alongside the like-minded Anaheim festival Day N Night, one of the best-positioned to lead the way. Los Angeles Times

Plus: In 2017, pop music either sought shelter from the storm or ran straight into it. Los Angeles Times

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More wildfire worries: In a cycle of longer and more intense fire seasons, the efforts of California industry and regulators to protect the environment can be partly undone in one firestorm. In particular, as raging blazes pump more carbon into the atmosphere, state officials are grappling with the potential effect on California’s ability to adequately reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That’s because state regulations apply only to human-caused emissions. Cal Matters

Amazing story: A decade ago, the federal government’s boldest land grab in a generation produced the first border wall — and a trail of abuse, mistakes and unfairness. Texas Tribune/ProPublica

Watch ’em all: Here are Times film critic Kenneth Turan’s 10 best movies of the year. Los Angeles Times

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Benjamin Oreskes and Shelby Grad. Also follow them on Twitter @boreskes and @shelbygrad.

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