Newsletter: Earthquakes are found 15 miles below California, but what does it mean?

Good morning. It is Friday, Oct. 7. Meet the guy who is squatting on domain names for state ballot measures. Here’s what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

Fallen officer

L.A. County Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Owen is being remembered as a caring cop who reached out to those who had run-ins with the law. “This guy, when I was in trouble, kept me straight,” said one man. Owen was shot Wednesday by a 27-year-old man with a stolen gun, according to authorities. Sheriff Jim McDonnell said Owen was essentially “executed.” Los Angeles Times

Deeper earthquakes

Earthquakes occur much deeper below ground than scientists originally believed, according to new findings. That means faults like the Newport-Inglewood and the San Andreas could experience even more powerful earthquakes than expected. “The big question is: If the next, larger earthquake happens, if it manages to penetrate deeper than we think, it may be bigger than we expect,” said Caltech seismology professor Jean Paul Ampuero. Los Angeles Times

L.A. AT LARGE

Deadly infections: Los Angeles County plans to require hospitals to begin reporting when patients are infected with a superbug so lethal that it can kill half its victims. The change comes after a Times report on Sunday about how Manhattan Beach resident Sharley McMullen was sickened with CRE. Los Angeles Times

Transit funds: The campaign behind a sales tax increase that would fund a massive expansion of Los Angeles County’s transit infrastructure has raised $4.5 million. Documents show three-quarters of that money came from developers, unions, engineering firms and other groups that would benefit from the passage of Measure M. Los Angeles Times

Rest in peace: This is the story of how L.A.’s first cemeteries were abandoned and bulldozed. Curbed LA

Not in my backyard: San Pedro residents do not want the city to open a storage center for the homeless a block away from an elementary school. That was the sentiment expressed at an emotional public hearing. “I’m defending my home,” said one resident. “This is not OK. I’m sick to my stomach.” Daily Breeze

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Campaign strategy: Kamala Harris crafted her U.S. Senate campaign so it would have an air of inevitability. After a measured debate performance and endorsements from the state’s two incumbent senators, Harris seems as close as ever to Washington. Los Angeles Times

Zero emissions: Californians need to buy more electric vehicles if the state is going to meet strict environmental goals set by lawmakers. Of course, it’s not quite that simple. CALmatters

That’s a lot of people: There are now 18.2 million registered voters in California. Los Angeles Times

CRIME AND COURTS

Criminal history: The man accused of killing an L.A. County sheriff’s sergeant has a long criminal history and a bad temper, according to those who know him. Officials say Trenton Trevon Lovell, 27, gunned down Sgt. Steve Owen as he responded to a burglary call in Lancaster. Los Angeles Times

Tearful testimony: The woman accusing NBA player Derrick Rose and two other men of rape took the witness stand Thursday to describe the alleged assault. The woman, who was on the stand for five hours and will continue today, told jurors she believed the men drugged her. “I was scared and I was embarrassed. I didn’t want anyone to know,” she said. All three men have denied her allegations. Los Angeles Times

Tragic case: A 16-year-old boy shot and killed by Los Angeles police called 911 himself and left his family a “farewell note,” according to Chief Charlie Beck. He was carrying a replica gun at the time of the shooting. “We are deeply saddened by these events. The tragedy is hard to describe,” Beck said. Los Angeles Times

Police raid: An Orange County attorney who represents marijuana collectives said police raided his home this week as payback for his legal work. However, a representative for the Sheriff’s Department said the raid was part of a narcotics investigation. Orange County Register

BUSINESS AND TECH

Big time: Is Snapchat getting ready to go public? There is speculation that the app, now formally known as Snap Inc., is eyeing a $25-billion initial public offering for the first quarter of next year. Los Angeles Times

A misstep: Facebook’s Marketplace launched Monday, and so far it’s not going great. Almost immediately, Marketplace was flooded with ads for guns, sex and illegal drugs, all of which violate the company’s commerce policy. New York Times

Gender discrimination: A former Yahoo employee is accusing CEO Marissa Mayer of purging male employees from the tech firm. In a new lawsuit, Scott Ard, editor of the Silicon Valley Business Journal, alleged “Mayer encouraged and fostered the use of (an employee performance-rating system) to accommodate management’s subjective biases and personal opinions, to the detriment of Yahoo’s male employees.” Mercury News

Actors’ union: Gabrielle Carteris is making her mark as president of SAG-AFTRA. “One of my real interests is to work on inclusivity — looking at diversity and gender equity. That for me, being a woman, is really important,” she says. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Tree falls in the woods: A giant Pacific madrone has fallen victim to the Soberanes fire. “Undoubtedly, that tree has seen other fires, but it just didn’t make it this time,” said Jeff Cann, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. SFGate

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

How rude: KTLA entertainment reporter Sam Rubin is calling out Ben Affleck and an aggressive flack, alleging censorship. The incident that riled up Rubin happened during the actor’s junket for “The Accountant.” The whole thing “shows complete contempt not only for me, but for you,” Rubin told his viewers. Hollywood Reporter

Crust and filling: The winners of KCRW’s Good Food Pie Contest look unbelievably delicious. KCRW

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Sacramento will be 85 and sunny. It will be 75 and sunny in San Francisco. Los Angeles is expected to have a high of 93. Riverside will be 93 and sunny. In San Diego, temperatures will reach a high of 87.

AND FINALLY

Today’s California Memory comes from Laurence Budd:

“In the summer of 1965 I visited my aunt and uncle in Woodland Hills. For a 12-year-old boy from Indiana, the Valley was a tropical paradise and Hollywood was the center of the universe. Lush vegetation lined the Ventura Freeway. The wonderful scent of orange blossoms filled the air. I assumed it was called ‘The Valley’ because it was ‘The Valley of the Jolly Green Giant!’ (HoHoHo!) TV and movie stars seemed to be around every corner, the Beach Boys were hot with ‘Good Vibrations.’ Malibu Beach was exactly like the bikini movies, a dream come true for any teenage boy. Off in the corners, the magic is still there.”

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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