Newsletter: Essential California: A minimum wage that crosses city limits, Long Beach residents on edge of safety, and can a swimming pool save you water?

Good morning. It is Tuesday, June 2. Down in Oceanside, a former Marine held an abdominal plank position for five hours and 15 minutes, which set a world record. Guess that's motivation enough to at least run around the block. Here's what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

Workers on the move

The L.A. City Council is expected to vote for a $15-an-hour minimum wage this week, but legal questions linger. One concerns what would happen to employees who sometimes work in L.A. and sometimes work in neighboring cities that don’t have the higher wage law. "It could extend the minimum wage to a plethora of businesses outside of L.A.," said Dustan Batton, policy manager for Los Angeles County Business Federation. Los Angeles Times 

Living conditions

In Long Beach, some renters are living with broken windows, hazardous electrical wiring and mold. Records show that L.A. County's second-largest city lags behind in identifying and fixing housing code violations. "We have people living in horrible, deplorable situations. You would think it's a third-world country," Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez said. Los Angeles Times 

DROUGHT

Pools for conservation: The swimming pool lobby has a great way for you to save water in this drought -- install a pool. But don’t splash too much. Apparently that's a waste of water. Los Angeles Times

Cost of water: In an Op-Ed, the president of Chapman University argues that demand for water could be controlled through better pricing. "As an economist, one thing of which I can be absolutely certain is that, if we allow prices to respond to market forces, the water shortage in California will disappear … drought or no drought," he writes. Orange County Register

Empty lakes: This photo slide show illustrates just how far the water level has dropped at Lake Oroville. SF Gate

Catching scofflaws: The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District hired security to patrol for water wasters 24 hours a day. First-time offenders will receive a warning, but after that the financial penalties start racking up. 89.3 KPCC

Beverage of choice: If you are truly a water-conscious consumer, it's better to have a glass of wine than a glass of apple juice, though tomato juice trumps them both. Mother Jones

L.A. AT LARGE

Wage pushback: The head of the L.A. County Federation of Labor should be celebrating this week’s anticipated vote on increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Instead, Rusty Hicks found himself explaining why three union-supported provisions almost made it into the law without any public discussion. "Instead of getting the provisions he wanted quietly and without controversy, he was getting blowback and getting nowhere." LA Weekly

Sticking together: For some couples who lose their homes, a tent encampment may be preferable to a homeless shelter because it means they don't have to separate. That's especially important when one partner is struggling with addiction or going through a pregnancy. Marketplace

CRIMES AND COURTS

Protecting immigrants: Immigrants, especially those who are in the country illegally, are vulnerable to scams. That's what happened when Jesus Lozano advertised himself as an attorney who could defend them in court. He was eventually busted by two undercover investigators who are part of a task force targeting crooks who prey on immigrants. Los Angeles Times

Sentence upheld: The state Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for an Orange County man who killed his parents and brother in 1994. The court found that Edward Charles III confessed to a martial arts instructor and tried to persuade his grandfather to take the blame. Los Angeles Times

SPORTS

Life after the NBA: Shelly Sterling is speaking out for the first time since her family's ownership of the Clippers came to a sudden end a year ago. "My family didn't talk to me for a while, because I was selling the team. They were all against me," she says of selling the basketball franchise the Sterling family owned for more than 30 years. ESPN

Is it a sport? Competitive cheerleading could soon be considered a sport in California. Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez says that would provide consistent safety rules and training for coaches. Gonzalez is also backing a bill to pay professional cheerleaders at least minimum wage. Associated Press

Under new management: What's the worst that could happen when sportswriters take over a baseball team? The Sonoma Stompers are about to find out. NPR Morning Edition

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Photo archives: In recognition of LGBT Month, a look back at how the Herald Express and the Herald Examiner covered the gay and lesbian community through pictures. Los Angeles Public Library

New identity: After completing her gender transition, Caitlyn Jenner made her debut on the cover of Vanity Fair. "I'm not doing this to be interesting. I'm doing this to live," said Jenner, who was formerly known as Bruce Jenner. Vanity Fair

Preserving the past: Angelenos share which "old-school" places they want to see live on. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti weighed in with his thoughts. Zocalo Public Square

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

It will be partly sunny and 68 degrees in San Diego. Los Angeles will be cloudy through midmorning with a high of 73. San Francisco will be 64 and partly sunny.

AND FINALLY

Denzel Perryman, a linebacker for the San Diego Chargers, got a stern talking-to after he participated in a dodgeball game for charity. The problem? He's on the injured list.

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