Newsletter: Today: Did LAUSD Do the Right Thing?

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

School Was Out, for a Hoax

The email came at night, addressed to an LAUSD official. It warned that an attack involving bombs, AK-47 rifles and other guns would happen Tuesday, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said. District officials had to make the call: They chose to close down all 900 schools for the day. In New York, officials received a nearly identical email threat — and barely batted an eye. Why did the responses vary so much to what was ultimately deemed a hoax?

Did LAUSD Do the Right Thing?

We asked readers to share their experiences. Their responses represent more than 100 schools across the city. Some of the reaction:

"I was literally in shock. Ten years working for LAUSD, and I never had such an experience. I am concerned that this is going to be the norm from now on, reminds me of El Salvador and its civil war." –Claudia Castaneda, teacher, Virgil Middle School

“Let's just wait and see what comes of the investigation. Sure it displaced hundreds of thousands of kids, made today hard for that many parents. I prefer an err on the side of safety and precaution myself." –Rachel Varla on Facebook

Do you think LAUSD made the right decision? Join the conversation on Facebook. Has this changed the way you feel about your child’s school? Tell us what you think in our response form.

The Man Who Bought the Rifles

Authorities say Enrique Marquez purchased the assault rifles used in the San Bernardino terrorist attack. An acquaintance says, "He couldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag." Soon, he could face a variety of legal battles, including charges related to gun law violations and conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism. Here’s what Marquez is potentially up against.

GOP Debate: Do You Feel Safer Now?

They jabbed, they parried and, at least a couple of times, they agreed: Islamic State must be stopped and President Obama’s plan to admit 10,000 refugees from Syria is a nonstarter. The Republican presidential candidates got into a heated debate in Las Vegas over terrorism and national security. And who was at the center of much of the verbal sparring? You guessed it. Our complete coverage is here. More insights in our Essential Politics newsletter.

And the Verdict on 'Star Wars' Is ...

Does "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" live up to the hype? Times film critic Kenneth Turan calls it a definite improvement on the last three "Star Wars" prequels. (Hmm.) Harrison Ford is splendid. (OK, better.) "Sometimes the Force is with this film, sometimes it decidedly is not." See why.

CALIFORNIA

-- Of 1,356 complaints of biased policing from 2012 to 2014, the LAPD did not uphold one.

-- New Metrolink passenger cars that derailed were equipped with flawed parts, according to a confidential report.

-- L.A. County's probation agency chief steps down amid allegations of a romantic relationship with an aide.

-- The DWP board has approved an increase in water rates to fix aging pipes.

-- The bad news: It's still cold. The good news: It should warm up on Friday.

NATION-WORLD

-- A Utah official who helped arrange a $53-million loan to ship coal through California has resigned.

-- The U.S. presses Turkey to do more in the coalition fight against Islamic State.

-- Yemen peace talks begin amid scattered violations of a cease-fire.

-- Congress nears a mega-deal on spending, an oil export ban and specialty tax breaks.

-- Man's best friend for a long time: Dogs go back 33,000 years, a study finds.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS

-- CBS' mysterious cancellation of "Mike & Molly" leaves the cast "shocked" and frustrated.

-- Album review: A new Prince album still has the funk (and R&B).

-- Who you gonna call? "Ghostbusters" is one of 25 movies being named to the National Film Registry.

-- Five comics artists to watch from 2015's "Best American Comics."

-- Dance review: American Ballet Theatre's new "Nutcracker" makes an old tradition feel young.

BUSINESS

-- What to expect as the Federal Reserve readies for a key interest rate increase.

-- State regulators propose new fees for rooftop solar customers but reject utility companies' plans.

SPORTS

-- Pete Rose: "I want baseball and Pete Rose to be friends."

-- It's college football bowl season. Here are our predictions.

-- In a rare recording, James Naismith describes the first basketball game as an all-out brawl.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- An author returns to Ethiopia, land of his father's dreams. (Guernica)

-- A look at Thailand's laws about defaming royalty, as a man faces charges for insulting the king's dog. (The Telegraph)

-- Iraqi pilots are learning to fly F-16s in Arizona. (Popular Mechanics)

ONLY IN CALIFORNIA

It's the invasion of the driverless cars. Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla Motors, Nissan, Honda and Google all have permits to test them in California. Now, add Ford. Why here and not Michigan? "You have high-occupancy-vehicle lanes on the freeways," a spokesman in Dearborn says, "and the warm weather means you have tons of bicyclists and pedestrians on the streets, and you let motorcyclists split lanes. We expect to see more clutter on the roadway than we do here."

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.