Newsletter: Essential California: The prisoners’ prisoner

Good morning. It is Wednesday, Feb. 3. Why did a turkey go through security at SFO? So he could board his flight, of course. Here’s what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

The prisoners’ prisoner

The taxi cab driver allegedly held captive by the three Orange County jail escapees tells his story. They chain-smoked together in a tiny motel room. He slept beside them. He accompanied them across the state. He listened to them argue about whether to kill him. He wondered whether he would survive. Los Angeles Times

Jail free card

A manhunt is underway for a suspect accused of murder. Steven Lawrence Wright was mistakenly released from jail after he served five days for contempt of court. Sheriff’s officials are reevaluating their procedures even as they look for Wright. “I haven’t had something like this happen in my 16 years of practice. It was nothing my client did. My client had a good shot at his murder trial and a good defense,” said attorney Stacie Halpern. Los Angeles Times

Disciplinary action

Los Angeles police did not violate the department’s policy when they shot a homeless man on the streets of skid row last year, according to the Police Commission. The March 1 killing of Charly Leundeu Keunang gained worldwide attention after video of the shooting went public. In a separate case, police commissioners did fault officers for a deadly shooting that took place in Burbank at the end of a pursuit. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Too much water: San Diego has too much water now that a desalination plant has come online. Some of that water, enough to supply 14,000 people for a year, is being off-loaded into a reservoir near Chula Vista. In the meantime, the city is contractually obligated to keep purchasing water from the desal firm, even though that water is significantly more expensive than from other sources. Voice of San Diego

Fewer savings: Californians didn’t do such a good job at conserving water in December. Usage dropped 18.3% compared with December 2013. “The fact that we’re focused on those percentages is, I think, less important than that people have really stepped up ... sometimes at extraordinary cost,” said State Water Resources Control Board Chairwoman Felicia Marcus. Los Angeles Times

L.A. AT LARGE

Lawyering up: The L.A County District Attorney’s Office filed four misdemeanor charges against the Southern California Gas Co. on Tuesday for allegedly failing to immediately report the gas leak in Aliso Canyon. Also, state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris signed onto a lawsuit against the company. The complaint accuses the gas company of violating health and safety codes, public nuisance laws and hazardous materials reporting requirements. “Against the backdrop of California’s ongoing efforts to reduce [greenhouse gas] emissions generally, this leak is a monumental environmental disaster,” according to the lawsuit. Los Angeles Times

Air travel: Which airline will be the No. 1 carrier at LAX? American Airlines and Delta Air Lines are duking it out, but there are several factors working against them. LAX shares air travel with other nearby airports and its West Coast location prevents it from becoming a connection hub. Bloomberg

Top-notch teacher: What is the recipe for helping students reach their full potential? Love. That’s according to Anthony Yom, a calculus teacher at Lincoln High. One of his students has been in the news this week for achieving a perfect score the Advanced Placement calculus exam. “You build this trust and at that point, whatever you ask them to do, they’ll go the extra mile,” Yom said. Los Angeles Times

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Political funds: Rep. Janice Hahn and L.A. City Councilman Mitch Englander are winning the money race when it comes to the L.A. County supervisorial elections. The congresswoman and councilman are running for the Fourth and Fifth District seats, respectively. “This year’s election will continue a power shift that began with the 2014 elections, as newly implemented term limits begin to take effect. Before that, sitting supervisors had held onto their seats on the board for two or even three decades.” Los Angeles Times

CRIME AND COURTS

Crisis response: San Bernardino police have been repeatedly praised for their response to the Dec. 2 mass shooting at the Inland Regional Center, but Chief Jarrod Burguan is focused on what he and his officers can do better in the future. They’re focused on improved medical training and more equipment like rifles and body armor. Los Angeles Times

Cover up: Two L.A. County sheriff’s deputies were found guilty Tuesday of falsifying records about the beating of a jail inmate. The same jury deadlocked over whether the deputies used excessive force. Joey Aguiar and Mariano Ramirez were accused of beating inmate Bret Phillips and then lying to cover it up. “The jury forewoman said in a brief interview afterward that 10 jurors were in favor of convicting the deputies on the excessive-force charge, but could not persuade the two remaining holdouts.” Los Angeles Times

Housing battle: A Los Angeles superior court judge heard arguments Tuesday in the fight between singer Katy Perry and an order of nuns. The legal fight centers on whether the Los Angeles Roman Catholic Archdiocese or the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary has the authority to sell a hilltop property in Los Feliz. The pop star wants to buy the mansion from the archdiocese for $14.5 million in cash. A ruling is expected in the coming weeks. Los Angeles Times

BUSINESS

Job losses: Yahoo is expected to cut 15% of its workforce. The Sunnyvale-based company posted profit figures that exceeded fourth-quarter estimates, but the stock has still seen a 35% decline in the last year. “It’s tough to turn around Internet companies. Either you’re kind of in the sweet spot, or you’re not,” said Shyam Patil, an analyst at Susquehanna International Group LLP. Los Angeles Times

Discrimination allegations: Meanwhile, a former Yahoo Inc. employee is suing the company, alleging that the environment favored women over men and that performance reviews were manipulated. “He’s really taking on the whole industry of employment performance reviews and how people do them,” said one labor and employment attorney. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

True crime: The sister of Nicole Brown Simpson says she’s upset that the creators of the new miniseries “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” never contacted her or her family. “I’m just so disappointed in where our society has gone that nobody shows any regard for anybody anymore. And this kind of set me over the edge,” said Tanya Brown. Orange County Register

Winner, winner: Did you purchase a lottery ticket in Chatsworth last August? Someone purchased a winning ticket there but so far hasn’t claimed the prize. The winner has until Thursday to pick up the $63-million jackpot. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Francisco will have afternoon showers and a high of 53 degrees. Sacramento is expected to have afternoon rain and a high of 52. In Los Angeles, it will be sunny and 65. Riverside will be partly sunny and 63 degrees. It will be mostly sunny and 63 degrees in San Diego.

AND FINALLY

Today’s California Memory comes from Lori Murchison:

“Growing up in Culver City the 1950s, we caught pollywogs in the La Ballona Creek and ate 19-cent hamburgers at the Hamburger Handout in Airport Village. I remember looking at the architect’s model of the 405 before it was built and the Airport Village and all of the food courts were demolished. In the early 1970s, a friend took me to Tito’s, where I ate a burrito that tasted just like the ones I had as a kid — their first location was in the Airport Village! My children, and now my grandchildren, still enjoy Tito’s.”

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.