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Newsletter: Essential California: The fight over California’s coast

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Good morning. It is Thursday, Feb. 11. San Francisco is now home to the $15 cup of coffee. It’s eight ounces of pour-over coffee, and it’s served in a paper cup. Here’s what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

Coastal firing

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When some members of the California Coastal Commission decided to oust executive director Charles Lester, they hoped it would be a quiet, closed-door affair. Instead, they got a spirited public hearing with speakers voicing support for the mild-mannered executive and environmentalists saying pro-development forces were at play. Over the objections of supporters, the panel voted 7-5 to fire Lester on Wednesday night. “We need to set the record straight. There was no coup by developer interests,” said Commissioner Mark Vargas. Los Angeles Times

Guilty plea

Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca pleaded guilty Wednesday to lying to federal investigators. It’s the latest turn in a years-long investigation into abuses in L.A. County’s jail that began with lower-level deputies and has worked its way up the chain of command. The former No. 2 of the department, Paul Tanaka, is scheduled to go on trial in March on charges he obstructed a federal investigation into the jails. As part of Baca’s plea deal, prosecutors agreed not to seek a jail sentence of more than six months. Los Angeles Times

Baby’s death

A bullet that took the life of a 1-year-old girl may have been intended for her 24-year-old father, according to police. Autumn Johnson was in her crib when gunshots tore through the converted garage that she and her parents called home. Detectives are now looking for two men believed to be responsible while they also investigate what prompted the violence. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

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Storm’s rain: These illustrations show the rainfall from El Niño since 1950. “The Climate Prediction Center sees below-average chances of Western rains in the next couple weeks, but there’s always the possibility late-season storms could deliver a soaking.” CityLab

Still hot: Southern California set new high temperature records for the day as the heat wave continued. But forecasters still believe rain is possible in March and April due to El Niño. Los Angeles Times

L.A. AT LARGE

Capping leak: A relief well is expected to intersect with a damaged injection gas well in Aliso Canyon as early as today, according to regulatory and utility officials. When that happens, crews with the Southern California Gas Co. will be able to push in mud and stabilizing fluids. If that proves successful, they will then pump in cement to seal off the well. The gas company said the well began leaking methane at the end of October. It’s since led to the temporary relocation of thousands of households in Porter Ranch. Los Angeles Times

Bubble burst: Venture capitalist Mark Suster made a name for himself by writing a must-read blog on the tech community. And on that blog he’s been warning readers that tech companies are “overhyped and overvalued.” “The era may be ending when any Caltech grad who could put together a PowerPoint deck could get a $1 million seed round.” LA Weekly

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

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Religious liberty: The state of California and the owners of crisis pregnancy centers are in a fight over the 1st Amendment. A new law requires the centers to post information about free or low-cost abortions and contraceptives that are available through public programs. However, the center’s operators, many of whom are opposed to abortion on religious grounds, argue the mandate violates their right to free speech. New York Times

Taxing pot: One state senator wants to tax medical marijuana at 15%. That mirrors what supporters have written into a ballot measure legalizing all pot. “It’s time to help fund the areas that are most affected by the cultivation — those communities that have long been paying the price of the negative effects of cultivation brought on by the ‘bad actors’ who destroy the environment and bring in crime,” said state Sen. Mike McGuire. Sacramento Bee

On the street: This is what it’s like to live on the streets of Contra Costa, which just held its annual homeless count: “I tend to hunker us down. I’m pretty good at MacGyvering us a shelter,” said Jarrett Keesling, who has been homeless off and on for more than 15 years. KQED

Wear a wire: In southeast Los Angeles County, politicians who take seriously their oath of office are winding up as FBI informants. Agents are using them to catch bribes. “Whether the bribe is $5 million or $5 the action is the same, you’re saying: I’m in it for myself, I’m not in it to serve the public and I’m willing to go around the rules and break the law,” said Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Law School professor. Los Angeles Times

EDUCATION

‘New normal’: UC Berkeley is facing a budget deficit and its chancellor says that could force a fundamental transformation of the institution. “Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks said a ‘new normal’ of dwindling taxpayer support would continue to squeeze one of the nation’s premier public research universities, and had prompted a sweeping review likely to bring painful change.” Los Angeles Times

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Dues increase: Los Angeles teachers agreed to increase their dues 30% after union leaders said they needed more financial resources to combat the rise of charter schools. That means educators will pay about $1,000 a year to United Teachers Los Angeles. Los Angeles Times

CRIME AND COURTS

Parole denied: The man who assassinated Sen. Robert F. Kennedy in 1968 was denied parole for the 15th time. Members of the California parole panel said Sirhan Sirhan has not shown adequate remorse or an understanding of the enormity of his crime. Los Angeles Times

Officer attacked: A Huntington Beach police officer was attacked by a father and son Tuesday night, police said. The attack occurred after the officer pulled over 23-year-old Bryce Headrick, who was on a bicycle. The officer was treated for injuries to his face and head. Orange County Register

No one home: San Francisco police, tactical units and crisis negotiators were called to the Mission District on Tuesday night to respond to a suspect believed to be in a housing complex. After more than two hours, police figured out they were in a standoff with themselves — the suspect was not in the building. SFist

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

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Super Bowl show: This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: Players with the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, many of whom come from working-class families, played for 112 million people alongside Beyoncé and Coldplay. “I never thought I’d be on a stage that big with such amazing people. I learned a lot about music and life,” said one 16-year-old musician. Los Angeles Times

Slam dunk: If you’re a Lakers fan, then this property listing is for you. It’s the penthouse at the Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. Live, just a stone’s throw from Staples Center. Lakers co-owner Jim Buss is offering the unit for $8.8 million. Los Angeles Times

O.J. Simpson: How did filmmakers re-create one of L.A.’s most famous car chases? Start with a white Bronco and 12 squad cars. 89.3 KPCC

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Francisco will have some clouds and sunshine with a high of 65. In Sacramento, temperatures will reach 72 degrees. Los Angeles will be mostly sunny and 85. Riverside will be sunny with a high of 88 degrees. San Diego will have lots of sunshine and a high of 78.

AND FINALLY

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Today’s California Memory comes from Stacy Christopher Lindsey:

“When my father was offered two cities for retiring from the U.S. Navy, one of them was San Diego — it didn’t matter what the other city was, it was an easy decision for my parents! One aspect about Southern California that really stands out for me are the Santa Ana winds. Although they are horribly destructive (though mostly due to humans setting fires), those incredibly warm winds always are a mark of our unique location and temperate zone. Growing up in San Diego County, I’ve played many a tennis match dealing with those chaotic Santa Ana winds! Over the years, sometimes the weather patterns are such that we will have one or two days of the winds during February — it is magical to have warm desert winds in the middle of winter!”

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.)

For the record: An item in yesterday’s newsletter said the Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to invest at least $1.85 billion in programs to help the homeless. The council voted in favor of the programs, which carry that estimated price tag, but did not vote on their funding.

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.

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