Essential California: The dark side of trendy food trucks: A poor health safety record

Terril Johnson bites into a taco from the Tacos Ariza food truck in Echo Park, which got a C grade from health inspectors in March but was reinspected and got a B.

May 18, 2016 5 AM PT

Good morning. It’s Wednesday, May 18, and this is what’s happening across California:

TOP STORIES

Food warning

In the small confines of food trucks, chefs are making complex gourmet meals that compete with the fanciest restaurants. But a Times data analysis found that food trucks in L.A. County are lagging behind restaurants and even sidewalk food carts when it comes to health safety. Los Angeles Times

Oil leak charges

Nearly a year after a pipeline rupture spilled roughly 143,000 gallons of crude along the Santa Barbara coast, state and local officials filed criminal charges against the pipe’s owner, which faces fines of nearly $3 million. The spill was the worst in the area in decades. Los Angeles Times

Times change

Orange County used to be deep red GOP country. But this year, in a sign of the Republicans’ decline there, voters in one race might be deciding between two Democrats. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Drought relief split: California’s two Democratic U.S. senators appear not to be on the same page about much-delayed drought relief legislation in Congress. Sacramento Bee

Fight for your rights: Is California going to finally touch the third rail in drought policy, water rights? Sacramento Bee

L.A. AT LARGE

Fuel tank mania? L.A. went wild when the Space Shuttle hit the streets of the city on the way to its new home in Exposition Park. Will the crowds be there this weekend when the shuttle’s fuel tank makes its journey to the California Science Center? San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Bidding war: That nine-bedroom mansion in Beverly Hills must be pretty nice. Fashion titan Tom Ford purchased the house, winning a bidding war with Jay Z and Beyoncé. LAist

Boulevard of dreams: Here are 10 things to do on Crenshaw Boulevard (including that section that hits the Pacific Ocean). LA Weekly

Missing art: The “Silver Lake Saddle” was supposed to be an iconic piece of art for the neighborhood. Now, there are questions about whether it will ever be built. The Eastsider

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Homeless tax: In a new bid to help ease homelessness, L.A. County supervisors want to establish a special tax on millionaires. But this Robin Hood approach still faces some hurdles. Los Angeles Times

Hat in the ring: There’s a new candidate in the race to replace Jerry Brown as governor of California. Here’s a rundown of who’s in, who’s out and what to expect. Los Angeles Times

Stage an intervention: Maybe now it’s time for Gov. Jerry Brown to step in amid growing questions about the California Coastal Commission, columnist Steve Lopez writes. Los Angeles Times

CRIME AND COURTS

Administrator arrested: William Webb, a popular assistant principal at the Los Angeles Unified School District’s flagship arts high school, was arrested Tuesday morning on suspicion of sexual misconduct with a student. Los Angeles Times

Voice of protest: Black Lives Matter protesters continue to make their voices heard at the L.A. Police Commission, calling for police reform. Los Angeles Times

Grooming tragedy: A PetSmart worker was arrested after a 1-year-old dachshund died following a grooming session, police said. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Superhero from Clovis: Meet the kid from Fresno County who is now responsible for more non-white superheroes in Hollywood. The Undefeated

Coastal perks: Personal surfing safaris. Gourmet picnics and fire ring feasts. Orange County beachside resorts are coming up with new deals to lure upscale vacationers. Orange County Register

Rise of the machines: Whole Foods is banking on robots at its new 365 store in Los Angeles (and elsewhere) to help turn around the chain’s sinking fortunes. New York Times

Game over: The Inland Empire is seeing some of its famed golf courses close down as business drops and demand for more space for housing developments rises. Press-Enterprise

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

In Los Angeles, it will be partly cloudy and heat up to 76 degrees. San Diego will also be partly cloudy but reach only 70 degrees. San Francisco is expected to be sunny and 69. Sacramento will be hot, hot, hot: 98 degrees.

AND FINALLY

Today’s California Memory comes from Bill Savidge:

“We came to Coronado in 1959 from the East Coast and moved into a house four blocks from the beach — it felt like we’d died and gone to heaven! It took us a while to get oriented, but I guess we’d made it when a year later my brother Joe went to a friend’s birthday party at the zoo in Balboa Park. Somehow he got separated from the group on the way home and ended up having to walk on his own to the ferry (no bridge then!), convinced them to take him across for free, and walked from there safely to our house.”

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.)

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