Newsletter: Essential California: Conviction tossed in ‘teardrop rapist’ case

Good morning. It is Tuesday, Nov. 24. The rare red panda that disappeared from a Northern California zoo was taken back into custody this weekend. It's unknown how Masala spent her few days of freedom. Here's what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

Released from prison

For 16 years, Luis Lorenzo Vargas has served time behind bars for three sexual assaults. On Monday, a judge ordered his release after DNA evidence showed that Vargas could not have been the attacker in at least one of those cases and instead implicated the "teardrop rapist." That attacker, named for the teardrop tattoos said to be on his face, has been tied to at least 39 sexual assaults in L.A. since 1995. Los Angeles Times

Settlement reached

The father of Kelly Thomas, a mentally ill homeless man who in 2011 was beaten by Fullerton police and died a few days later, will receive $4.9 million after reaching a settlement with the city. Los Angeles Times

Shoplifting lawsuit

San Francisco's city attorney is suing a Utah company, Corrective Education Co., which asks suspected shoplifters to sign confessions and pay hundreds of dollars for a "life skills" class or risk prosecution. According to the lawsuit, CEC makes "threats and false and misleading statements to people detained by private security guards in the back room of a store to induce them to sign unlawful and unconscionable contracts confessing to crimes." The company says the suit is without merit. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Let it snow: The Sierra Nevada is getting more than snow right now — it's picking up a bit of optimism. "It's been a couple of years since we've had this kind of potential," said the manager of the Donner Ski Ranch. Los Angeles Times

Handing out fines: There are wide disparities in how rich and poor Californians are fined for excessive water use. "There are 411 separate water districts — some public, some private — and each of these local utilities has been charged with devising its own rules for saving water during the drought." New York Times

100-year rains: It has been nearly 100 years since San Diego suffered what is considered its biggest weather disaster. The rains came after the San Diego City Council offered to pay "moisture accelerator" Charles Hatfield $10,000 to fill Lake Morena. San Diego Union-Tribune

L.A. AT LARGE

Traditional rugs: A 2010 embargo on Iranian-made rugs has created tough times for businesses on Los Angeles' Westside, but that could change if sanctions are lifted under the latest nuclear deal with Iran. "This is part of our being. Any Persian house you go in, they'll have one. It's something that's within us," said Joseph Tizabi, an affluent collector of Persian rugs. Los Angeles Times

Traffic jams: This should be no surprise — one-third of the country's 30 worst bottlenecks can be found in the Los Angeles area. "Using traffic speed data for passenger and freight vehicles and average traffic volumes along major corridors, researchers ranked the bottlenecks based on average estimated delays daily." Los Angeles Times

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Voter outreach: Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is trying to make inroads with voters in Central California, three years before his name will appear on the ballot for the state's gubernatorial race. He's doing so by talking about water, poverty and the possibility of an upcoming duck hunt. Sacramento Bee

Use of funds: There's growing discomfort in Beverly Hills over the school board's decision to use construction bond funds to fight Metro's plans to build a new subway under Beverly Hills High School. "The California constitution requires school bond measures to issue a specific list of projects and prohibits school districts from using those funds for items not listed. Passed before the battle with Metro began, Measure E does not include the dispute as an approved expense." Jewish Journal

CRIME AND COURTS

Macabre tours: They call visiting the sites of murder and tragedy dark tourism. "Visiting places of tragedy such as (the Black Dahlia) has the ability to act as both a communal catharsis whilst attempting to find meaning in death in the city around us." L.A. Review of Books

Mentally ill inmates: Civil rights attorneys want better care for mentally ill inmates so they can end the "skid row to jail" cycle in Los Angeles. "This case is about homelessness prevention. By failing to provide needed assistance … the county sends mentally disabled homeless people back to the streets of Skid Row," said attorney Mark Rosenbaum of Public Counsel. 89.3 KPCC

Food fight: A legal dispute is pitting Joan McNamara of Joan's on Third against her business partners at the new Santa Monica location. McNamara is accusing the Santa Monica staff of selling unapproved retail products and incorrectly preparing signature dishes like macaroni and cheese and omelets. However, her partners accuse McNamara of failing to provide specifics about dishes and packaging. Hollywood Reporter

Body found: A UCLA graduate student who went missing this month was discovered Saturday buried under an avalanche in the John Muir Wilderness. Michael David Meyers was last heard from on Nov. 5 when he texted a roommate to say he was going to Mt. Russell in Inyo National Forest. Los Angeles Times

HOUSING

Big house: Villa de Formosa is a 52,000-square-foot home that will be the largest in Orange County once it is completed. The massive abode is expected to include a salt therapy room, a grotto and parking for 28 cars. It will probably cost more than $1 million a year to maintain the property once it is done. Orange County Register

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Let's get along: Californians have been trying to tear apart the state since its inception, but one writer says it's finally time to end the NorCal-SoCal rivalry. "Our state's challenges aren't split along an imaginary dividing line. Neither should we be. It's time to drop the trumped-up rivalry and work together to protect what's left of California." KCET

Beloved characters: Which folks are the true gems of San Francisco anymore? SFGate

Rhino dies: An endangered northern white rhino died Sunday at the San Diego Zoo's Safari Park. Nola, 41, had lived at the park since 1989. There are now just three northern white rhinos left in the world. San Diego Union-Tribune

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Francisco will be breezy and rainy with a high of 55 degrees. It will be partly sunny and 69 in Los Angeles. Riverside will be partly sunny and 71 degrees. In San Diego, expect some sunshine and 69 degrees.

AND FINALLY

Today's California Memory comes from Kathleen Warren Brunton:

"In the summer of 1976, my parents, younger sister and I moved to Carlsbad from Indiana. We left behind eight siblings and everything familiar. But it didn't take long to grow accustomed to the beautiful weather and the daily ocean view on my walk to high school. That Thanksgiving, my mom cooked a traditional turkey dinner, loaded everything in coolers and the family station wagon, and we trekked to a harbor park in San Diego. The weather was gorgeous, the seagulls were cawing, and the sun glistened on the water. An actual picnic on Thanksgiving! Amazing."

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

In the Nov. 23 newsletter, we reported that Dave Roberts would replace Dave Mattingly as Dodgers manager. Mattingly's first name is Don.

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.