Newsletter: Today: Emmys Make History. GOP’s New Tune.

I'm Davan Maharaj, editor of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I don't want you to miss today.

TOP STORIES

An Emmy Show for the Record Books 

It was a night of firsts at the Emmy Awards. Viola Davis became the first African American to win for actress in a drama. Jon Hamm finally won for dramatic actor after eight nominations in the category. "Game of Thrones" took its first award for best drama and set a record for most wins in one year. It goes on. See our complete coverage, including TV critic Mary McNamara's thoughts on the show, fashion critic Booth Moore's take on the red carpet and the full list of winners. 

Grand Opening on Grand Avenue

After last week's A-list parties, the Broad museum opened its doors to the public Sunday. An estimated 3,000 people braved the heat to see Eli and Edythe Broad's blue-chip art collection. A fan favorite? Takashi Murakami's 82-foot-long mural "In the Land of the Dead, Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow." The opening also drew members of the LAUSD teachers union, who protested Broad's support of charter schools. 

Bring Out the Good China? 

When Chinese President Xi Jinping met with President Obama in 2013, neither leader wore a necktie -- a symbol of carefully scripted informality. This week, for Xi's first state visit to the U.S., the formalities will include a 21-gun salute at the White House. Beneath the pomp, tensions over cyber security, territorial claims and the economy have risen. What do the U.S. and China hope to get out of this summit? Hopefully more than a few photo ops. 

Big GOP News: Change Is Good

At the California Republican convention, the mantra was: Change is good. "We've been out of touch with where voters are," said one veteran party strategist. "We have to have the right tone and language." Among the shifts: a party platform saying that GOP members "hold diverse views" on immigrants without proper papers. Still, as columnist Cathleen Decker writes, it wasn’t a wholesale left turn. Also: More insight in our new Essential Politics newsletter. 

Why This Grouse Is a Canary in a Coal Mine

The greater sage grouse is known for its flashy mating dance. Soon, officials may be doing a delicate dance of their own, as the federal government will decide by the end of this month whether to protect the bird under the Endangered Species Act. Why the focus on a chicken-like bird? As the sage grouse goes, they say, so go hundreds of other species. 

OUR MUST-READS FROM THE WEEKEND

-- How the Valley fire exploded into one of the worst in California history.

-- Seven hikers' descent into doom at Zion National Park.

-- Fleeing Syria: A desperate migration.

-- Don Francisco says adiós to "Sábado Gigante" after 53 years.

-- Readers' memorable vacation photos from summer 2015.

-- After driving for Uber, columinst Steve Lopez is keeping his day job.

CALIFORNIA

-- Statewide tax credits for seismic retrofitting face a hurdle on Gov. Jerry Brown's desk. 

-- Columnist George Skelton says Carly Fiorina could be what the GOP is looking for ... in a U.S. Senate run. 

-- A new wildfire rages in Monterey County. 

-- A rural radio station offers a calming voice amid Valley fire confusion. 

NATION-WORLD

-- Former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras scored a victory at the polls. 

-- How Pope Francis' visit to New York City this week puts a spotlight on subways' woes. 

-- The U.S. plans to take in more refugees, Secretary of State John F. Kerry says.

-- Islamic State has a message for Muslims hoping to go to Europe: Don't.

-- Years of economic growth have many in Africa feeling good about their prospects. 

BUSINESS

-- The high price of new specialty drugs is angering insurers and patient advocacy groups. 

-- Michael Hiltzik: How a rich water district beat the federal government in a secret deal.

SPORTS

-- Columnist Sam Farmer takes in Week 2 of the NFL season.

-- Why a New Mexico house holds a giant trove of memorabilia devoted to Dodgers coachTim Wallach. 

ENTERTAINMENT

-- Fall TV: Reviews of the comedy "Life in Pieces" and crime shows "Blindspot" and "Minority Report." 

-- The late Jackie Collins on chronicling the steamy side of L.A.'s rich and famous.

-- How the Toronto International Film Festival set the stage for awards season. 

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- Meet the woman who designed Britain's road signs. (The Guardian)

-- Dreamforce: the massive carnival of geekery in San Francisco. (Wired)

-- Brian Selznick discusses how Maurice Sendak showed him the power of picture books. (The Atlantic)

ONLY IN L.A.

Old-school gelato. Cabernet Sauvignon sorbet. Fried chicken and waffle ice cream. In the realm of frozen confections, L.A. has come a long way from plain vanilla and chocolate. With so much hot weather lately, why not consult our food staff's list of Los Angeles-area ice cream and gelato? There's also a handy map -- whether you're in the market for historically accurate egg creams or a vegan ice cream cleanse.  

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.