Newsletter: Essential California: More than one Big One

Good morning. It is Thursday, April 23. A new study finds San Francisco is becoming less diverse. It will be the whitest county in the Bay Area by 2040. Here's what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

Quakes on quakes: A new study finds a major quake on the San Andreas fault could trigger additional tremors on nearby fault lines. “The concept of more than one Big One in a lifetime might feel outlandish to Californians today. But it wasn’t so long ago when this state had more powerful earthquakes more frequently.” Los Angeles Times

Through the grapevine: The California raisins visited the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday. A Fresno farmer is challenging a Depression-era law that allows the government to take privately grown crops as a way of controlling prices. Los Angeles Times

Trumped-up charges: L.A. County District Attorney Jackie Lacey is launching a new unit to look at wrongful convictions. The program, which still needs $1 million in funding, follows three high-profile exonerations in Los Angeles. Similar units already exist in Santa Clara, Ventura and Yolo counties. Los Angeles Times

L.A. AT LARGE

Reward for lost sea lion: A $5,000 reward is being offered for information on the whereabouts of a sea lion pup taken from Dockweiler Beach. “This seal pup has already suffered greatly from the trauma of being separated from his or her mother and is most likely terrified, lacking proper nutrition, and in desperate need of rescue,” according to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Los Angeles Times

Policing the police: This editorial makes the case that it should be clear to police officers that they cannot prevent people from filming their actions while they’re in public. This follows an incident Sunday in which a U.S. marshal destroyed the phone of a South Gate woman who was filming the police. Los Angeles Times

HOUSING

Responding to critics: Developer Geoff Palmer, known for building faux-Italian apartment complexes next to freeways, is responding to those who don’t care for his work. “The few critics are usually those poverty advocates that feel justifiably upset at the gentrification of downtown, which we symbolize. Others are less sophisticated,” he said. Los Angeles Magazine

Musical landmark: The Los Angeles apartment musician Kurt Cobain once shared with Courtney Love is now available for short-term stays on Airbnb. “Heart Shape Box” was allegedly written in the bathtub here. Vulture

Surrounded by giants: This picture shows one Echo Park home being overwhelmed by the small-lot development next door. LAist

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

No word from feds: Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Los Angeles) says he has not been contacted by FBI agents, even though they’ve talked to one of his staffers about doing campaign work while on the government payroll.  Roll Call

FBI in Inland Empire: FBI investigators seized hundreds of  boxes of documents and computers at the Beaumont City Hall Wednesday. Investigators also visited Urban Logic Consultants, a firm that provided management services to the Inland Empire city for more than 20 years. The Press-Enterprise

On the ballot: Members of the LGBT community are concerned that conservative groups may use California’s initiative process to pass discriminatory measures. This follows proposals to restrict transgender people's use of public restrooms and make it legal to murder gays and lesbians. Los Angeles Times

COURTS AND CRIMES

Legal dramas (and comedies): Judge Alex Kozinski of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is known for hosting movie nights in the federal courthouse. The audience is usually a mix of attorneys, clerks and federal employees. “We have these glorious facilities, and I want to bring the public in and show that this is a place where they are welcome,” Kozinski said. Los Angeles Times

Convict returns: A convicted pedophile is back in Orange County 24 years after he fled to Mexico. Henry Arthur Quinones jumped bail in 1991 in the midst of his trial. Orange County Register

DROUGHT

What happened to "clean tech"? Silicon Valley is synonymous with innovation, but the drought may be too much for even the most brilliant minds. “The solutions may have more to do with changing policy than technology breakthroughs at this stage.” The New York Times

SPORTS

Super Bowl party: Next year's Super Bowl will be played in Santa Clara, but the real fun will be in San Francisco. “It is going to be a weeklong extravaganza, a whirl of parties, celebrities and global media coverage. And then there’s going to be a game. In Santa Clara.” San Francisco Chronicle

Ruling reversed: A federal appeals court overturned Barry Bonds’ conviction for obstruction of justice. Judges found that a rambling non-answer Bonds gave regarding steroids in sports did not amount to a crime. Los Angeles Times

The Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight is May 2. Sign up at https://countdown.la/fight to receive the Los Angeles Times’ special edition coverage.

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Apple as luxury good: A female tech reporter overcame her fear of luxury shopping to visit an Apple store and try on the new Apple Watch. “My previous limited experiences with luxury goods shopping were defined by intimidation and humiliation.” Los Angeles Times

Tracking bobcats: The National Park Service tagged two baby bobcats. Photos show the kittens, who are three or four weeks old, are pretty cute. LAist

Topless sunbathing: One neighborhood group wants to allow women to sunbathe topless at Venice Beach. “It’s an equality issue,” said one of the women behind the proposal. Los Angeles Times

TALK BACK

In Wednesday's Talk Back, we asked you to weigh in on a proposal to pay $25,000 to one voter in an upcoming school board race. Here’s what you had to say:

“Unless the prize is for thoughtful, informed voting, it will just pervert the process.” -- Robbie Monsma

“Myself an immigrant, I became a citizen so I could vote. When I heard about this $25,000 prize, I was disappointed. While I appreciate the sentiment that this is meant to get more people to vote, it is sad to me that we have to resort to “bribing” people to get them to the polls.” -- Carole Tremblay

Today, we want to know your thoughts on what water agencies can do to encourage conservation. Now that tiered water rates have been knocked down, what do you think water districts should do to encourage customers to turn off sprinklers and take shorter showers? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter with the tag #EssentialCalifornia or send us an email: Alice Walton and Shelby Grad.

AND FINALLY

Dodgers fans, this may be the most important thing you read all week: How to watch Dodger games at home if you don’t have Time Warner Cable. Los Angeles Times

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.