Newsletter: Today: A Modern-Day Exodus. Russia’s Surfer Dudes.

I'm Davan Maharaj, editor of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I don't want you to miss today.

TOP STORIES

Fleeing Syria for the Unknown

A civil war and brutal Islamist insurgency have driven more than 4 million people out of Syria since 2012. Now, they are living in tents in Lebanon and Turkey, trekking through Greece, clashing with border guards in Hungary -- and still arriving by sea. A Times series on the largest migration since World War II begins online with a tale of courage, selflessness and tenacity on the road to Western Europe. 

Red Carpet, Black Tie

It has been called the most consequential museum to hit L.A. in at least the last decade. On Thursday, the Broad museum opened its doors for an A-list crowd -- one so big that it was just the first of two nights of parties. Eli and Edythe Broad played host to 800 guests, including Mayor Eric Garcetti, California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris and artists Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami and Catherine Opie. The $140-million Grand Avenue landmark in downtown L.A. will open to the public Sunday. Here's your guide to it in advance. 

Up Next on the GOP Road Show

Carly Fiorina is having a moment. The question is: Can she capitalize on her momentum coming out of the debate? Political watchers say the hard part is just beginning. For now, she and other GOP hopefuls are set to appear today in Greenville, S.C. The area has seen more and more Latinos move in, many of whom hold conservative social views. But, like many Latinos across the country, they are having trouble reconciling with the Republican candidates' stances on immigration.

Surf City, Russia

How do you say "hang ten" in Russian? In the cool waters off the remote Kamchatka Peninsula, some 4,000 miles from Moscow, surf culture has found an unlikely toehold. "There are three stereotypes that I fight against," says the owner of a popular surf hut there. "People think there are no good waves in Russia, that the water is too cold, and that you can't get a wetsuit or board here."

The Fed Stands Pat

The waiting is the hardest part, as Tom Petty once sang. Though he most definitely was not referring to the economy, the lyric could just as well apply to how the markets are taking the Federal Reserve's decision to hold off on raising a key interest rate. At this point, the only thing that's certain is that investors and analysts feel uncertain about the future. Here's what it is likely to mean for investors, businesses and home buyers.  

Free Speech, Version 2.0

It's back to the drawing board for the University of California regents, as they try to craft a policy that allows for free speech on campus while protecting students against prejudice. On Thursday, the regents withdrew a proposal that was criticized by some as too weak in dealing with anti-Semitism and by others as too strong, to the point of stifling dissent. Up next: An eight-person committee will convene to try again. 

CALIFORNIA

-- The wildfire death toll rises as evacuees face a weekend heat wave.

-- A high-speed rail from L.A. to Las Vegas? China says it's partnering with U.S. to build.

-- A state panel outlaws "dark money" in California political campaigns.

-- The owner of a Ferrari seen speeding on video in Beverly Hills is a drag-racing Qatar prince.

NATION-WORLD

-- Mexico says remains of the second of 43 missing students have been identified.

-- Defense in the Bowe Bergdahl Army desertion hearing suggests he was mentally ill.

-- A report calls U.S. detention conditions for migrants "similar, if not worse" than their home countries.

-- Scenes from Chile's 8.3-magnitude earthquake.

-- Even as they fear China, Okinawans battle against U.S. bases in Japan.

-- The African coup from Central Casting, circa 1980s.

BUSINESS

-- Prosecutors, not regulators, are the new enforcers of automotive safety.

-- FDA warns about infections from another type of medical scope.

-- David Lazarus: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau chalks up victories.

SPORTS

-- La Cañada High officials release video and photo of an alleged face-rubbing incident.

-- What's ahead for the L.A. Kings and Anaheim Ducks this season?

ENTERTAINMENT

-- The ABC sitcom "black-ish" is tackling that word head-on.

-- Johnny Depp creates a chilling, indelible "Whitey" Bulger in the film "Black Mass." Kenneth Turan reviews.

-- Keith Richards' first solo album in two decades should keep Rolling Stones fans happy.

-- Get prepped for Sunday's Emmy Awards with our play-at-home ballot and full coverage. 

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- The BBC looks at women vanishing without a trace in Mexico.

-- What makes a great national anthem? (The Atlantic)

-- Esquire delves into why the "best war reporter in a generation" stopped.

-- The difference between British and North American film audiences. (The Guardian)

ONLY IN L.A.

Traffic was light. The Hollywood sign briefly read, "HOLYWOOD." And an entrepreneur sold lawn sprinklers called "Let Us Spray." That was Los Angeles in 1987, when Pope John Paul II stayed at St. Vibiana's Cathedral near skid row. Ahead of Pope Francis' visit to the U.S. next week, columnist Patt Morrison relives the details of that historic visit.

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.