Newsletter: Today: Pomp, Protests and Trump’s Promises of ‘Real Change.’ ‘El Chapo’ Bolts for the U.S.
I’m Davan Maharaj, editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I don’t want you to miss today, including a look back into our Inauguration Day archives.
TOP STORIES
Pomp, Protests and Trump’s Promises of ‘Real Change’
After all the twists, turns and tweets that brought him to Washington, Donald Trump will become the 45th president of the United States today amid pomp and protests. We’re covering it all live on latimes.com. Support him or fear him, most would agree Trump is determined to upend nearly every aspect of the presidency. What exactly will be the “real change” he promised outside the Lincoln Memorial last night?
More About the Transition
-- Democrats hammered Treasury secretary pick Steven Mnuchin over thousands of foreclosures he oversaw while leading OneWest Bank. It was also revealed Mnuchin initially had failed to disclose $95 million in real estate holdings.
-- Rick Perry says he’s ready to lead the Energy Department, which he once wanted to eliminate.
-- No Latinos have been selected for the Cabinet for the first time since 1989.
-- Video from the protests that already have hit Washington.
‘El Chapo’ Bolts for the U.S.
Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, Mexico’s most notorious drug kingpin, is known for his daring prison escapes, but this time he left a Mexican prison for the custody of U.S. authorities. Guzmán’s extradition was expected to drag out till later this year. Instead, it came on President Obama’s last full day in office. Was there a message behind that?
A City Racked by Addiction Sues Over OxyContin
It’s a first-of-its-kind lawsuit: The city of Everett, Wash., is alleging that Purdue Pharma turned a blind eye to the criminal trafficking of OxyContin and is demanding that it pay for the cost of widespread opioid addiction in the community. The suit was prompted by an L.A. Times investigation that revealed Purdue had extensive evidence pointing to illegal trafficking across the U.S., but in many cases, did not share it with law enforcement or cut off the flow of pills.
A Police Shooting in Fontana, Caught on Video
The surveillance video from a gas station minimart is grainy but graphic. It shows a throng of Fontana police officers, one with a dog, cornering a legally blind and mentally ill man. Then, an officer opens fire, killing him. And it appears to partly contradict the initial account of the Fontana Police Department, which described the man as armed with a knife and advancing on officers.
Underground and Over Budget
If you’ve been anywhere near the L.A. Times’ offices, you’ve seen the work on a project to connect a tangle of light-rail lines beneath downtown Los Angeles. Three years ago, transportation officials said construction would cost $1.36 billion. Since then, they’ve asked for more money twice, the latest being a request for $199 million. Here’s why.
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FLASHBACK FRIDAY
Presidential inaugurations haven’t always taken place on Jan. 20; the first was April 30, 1789, and for nearly a century and a half after that, the usual date was March 4. That’s why you’ll notice the date of the first inauguration The Times covered, in 1885, is in the March 5 edition. Here’s a look at all the inaugural front pages The Times has published.
CALIFORNIA
-- Protests against Trump took place in Los Angeles yesterday, and more are expected today. But some Southern Californians are excited to be attending the inauguration.
-- With more winter storms hitting, the question isn’t just how much rain and snow they will dump, but will they be cold enough to add to the snowpack?
-- Must-see: Before-and-after images of Lake Oroville’s rise thanks to the “atmospheric river.”
YOUR WEEKEND
-- One California adventure a day: Check out our growing bucket list of places to go.
-- Salmon bisque and 15 additional soup recipes to warm you up tonight.
-- Why all this rain can be bad for gardening.
HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS
-- With the movie “Split,” M. Night Shyamalan hopes to remind people of his sixth sense for crafting taut thrillers.
-- Showing at Sundance, the documentary “Icarus” explores the Russian doping scandal. Its maker found himself thrust into the middle of the controversy.
-- A Getty exhibition looks at the work of Edmé Bouchardon, the once-famous sculptor whose reputation got chopped around the same time as France’s bloody revolution.
-- Miguel Ferrer of “Twin Peaks” and “NCIS: Los Angeles” fame has died at age 61. His father was Oscar winner José Ferrer and his mother was singer Rosemary Clooney.
NATION-WORLD
-- U.S. officials say two B-2 stealth bombers flew from Missouri to drop dozens of bombs in the Libyan desert, killing more than 80 suspected Islamic State militants.
-- West African troops entered the tiny nation of Gambia to oust a president who has refused to cede power after an election defeat.
-- A historic high-rise in the heart of Tehran caught fire and collapsed, killing dozens of firefighters who were battling the blaze.
-- Rescuers searched for survivors after earthquakes in central Italy triggered a massive avalanche that crushed a hotel. At least 30 people were feared dead.
-- A cold spell in Portland, Ore., has killed at least four homeless people this month.
BUSINESS
-- Officials have a message for drivers using Tesla’s Autopilot and other assistive features: You still need to pay attention while driving.
-- Cable news networks will probably get a ratings boost from a Trump administration, even as he bashes them.
-- David Lazarus: Cheaper, better “insurance for everybody”? Good luck with that.
SPORTS
-- The Oakland Raiders took their first official step to try relocating to Las Vegas.
-- USC football’s recruiting fortunes have mirrored its on-field turnaround.
OPINION
-- David Horsey: Obama was the president for a new generation.
-- Sandy Banks: How did the most ambitious nation on Earth move so quickly from optimism and confidence to pitchforks and fistfights?
WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING
-- The big move: An inside look at the five-hour White House changeover on Inauguration Day. (Washington Post)
-- A profile of Wayne Barrett, an investigative reporter who wrote books about Trump and Rudy Giuliani. He died Thursday after a battle with lung disease. (The New Yorker)
-- The “fake news” crisis of 120 years ago in the U.S. (The Atlantic)
ONLY IN CALIFORNIA
It has yellow and white scales on its head reminiscent of a certain hairdo. Meet Neopalpa donaldtrumpi, a moth species newly discovered in Riverside and Imperial counties and named by a scientist at UC Davis. What we really want to know: Will the moth be tweeting?
Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.
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