Newsletter: Essential California: In a holiday mood

Merry Christmas. It’s Friday, Dec. 25. For an inspiring holiday story about Los Angeles, we turn the clock back to 1969: the “hobo” hero and the cop who would be famous. Here’s what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

Holiday disrupted

For thousands of Porter Ranch residents displaced by a massive gas leak, the holidays have been a chaotic and frustrating time. They are living out of hotels, forced to curtail Christmas plans and unsure when they will move back into their homes. Los Angeles Times

San Bernardino questions

The army of investigators probing the San Bernardino terrorist attack is still trying to answer some key questions about the couple who killed 14 people. Who knew about the couple’s growing devotion to jihad? Did anyone know of their plot? Did the couple plan other massacres that day? And where did they go between the shooting rampage before noon on Dec. 2 and the shootout with police that killed them four hours later? Los Angeles Times

Living legacy

After the Watts riots in 1965, F. Ruth Moore looked around South L.A. and saw a community torn by poverty, joblessness, despair. She decided to throw an annual party to make sure the children of the community got a proper Christmas no matter their circumstances. Moore has since died, but the party goes on. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

El Niño protection: Extending a seawall. Cleaning out storms drains. Replacing flood control engines. These are some of things Huntington Beach is doing to prevent flooding during upcoming El Niño storms. Los Angeles Times

Water works: How much water is being produced by the series of winter storms in the Sierras? Folsom Lake added 18 billion gallons of water in two days. Sacramento Bee

L.A. AT LARGE

LAX milestone: The arrival of ride-sharing services at LAX should generate revenue for the airport. But if the experiences of other airports are any guide, parking revenues could go down along with business to taxis and van ride shares. Los Angeles Times

Christmas spirit: Workers at an Ontario office park chipped in to buy their beloved security guard a new $14,000 Ford Focus after car troubles turned his commute into a two-hour nightmare. Daily Breeze

Train to WeHo: Metro Rail running up La Brea or Fairfax avenues? That’s part of a complex proposal West Hollywood is pitching to get rail service into the city. Curbed LA

River fight: Is the debate over the future of the Los Angeles River being framed in extremes? Is there more common ground than we think? LA Observed

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Downey pardon: Robert Downey Jr. is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. But in the 1990s, he was notorious for bad behavior and spent time behind bars on drug convictions. Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday gave him a pardon, effectively scrubbing his criminal record clean. Los Angeles Times

Big talker: U.S. Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa of Richvale stood on the House floor and addressed colleagues on 72 of 157 legislative days this year, more than any other member of California’s congressional delegation. Los Angeles Times

New dog in town: Many have heard of Sutter, Jerry Brown’s famous corgi known as “California’s first dog.” But Brown his wife have another dog, Miss Colusa, who is trying to share the limelight. Sacramento Bee

Rocky roads: Is there any hope for fixing California’s worst roads? CALmatters

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Unwrapped: Toy unboxing has become a big business on YouTube. The odd — and hugely popular — phenomenon attracts millions of eyeballs. Some unboxers have become Internet stars, earning millions of dollars a year in ad revenue and commanding hefty fees for appearances. Los Angeles Times

Bad bikers, S.F. style: A new “crime” trend in San Francisco and Marin County: outlaw dirt bike gangs. “They meet at the marina, at the yacht club, usually Friday night.” Check out the video. SFist

Otter fun: Something for the holiday iPad: a sea otter playing with her adorable newborn pup at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. ABC 7

Unexpected burger joint: Is the best burger in L.A. found at a liquor store in Boyle Heights? Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

There is a 20% chance of rain for parts of Southern California on Christmas Day, with highs about 60 degrees. The weekend will be mostly sunny but cool. Sierra snow resorts are reporting perfect conditions — if you can get there.

AND FINALLY

Today’s California Memory comes from Carl D. Jacobs:

“We moved from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, specifically Northridge, in 1959. Built in a former orange grove, our house had 15 trees remaining. Thus on Christmas Day we went out in our bare feet, in shorts, to collect fruit, which we then squeezed into juice and drank. We took pictures and, when developed, sent to our family in New York with whom we had just celebrated my grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary ... not exactly barefoot and wearing shorts.”

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.