Newsletter: Essential California: Donald Trump and his protesters

Good morning. It is Thursday, May 26. Here’s what is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

Moths to a flame

At least five people were arrested after an Anaheim rally featuring presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. The candidate’s presence in Orange County highlighted the area’s changing demographics. “Although the county is still considered one of the last conservative strongholds in a state that increasingly leans left, an influx of Asian and Latino residents in recent decades has also created a base of people likely to oppose Trump’s rhetoric.” Trump is expected to be in San Diego and Fresno later this week. Los Angeles Times

Take a hike

The Backbone Trail, stretching from Point Mugu State Park to Will Rogers State Beach, is about to be completed, thanks to a 40-acre donation from former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and fitness pioneer Betty Weider and the sale of two other remaining parcels. “Mountain lions and rattlers are watching you, but you’ll meet a lot of people and still have a reasonably wild wilderness experience,” said Ron Webster, who helped build a least a third of the trail. Los Angeles Times

Buying up credits

California’s annual cap and trade market for greenhouse gases fell sharply below expectations, as buyers snapped up just 2% of the carbon credits that are the main state funding source for the bullet train project. Los Angeles Times

Protesters smash a Trump pinata outside the Trump rally in Anaheim.

(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Secret weapon: Can worms from Chile become soldiers in California’s battle against the drought? Good

L.A. AT LARGE

Make us look good: Did Inglewood city officials massage their financial books to make the city more attractive to the NFL? That’s the allegation a former city employee is making in a new federal lawsuit. The city’s former budget manager accuses Mayor James T. Butts of ordering employees to “create a facade of financial responsibility and well-being for the city” as it competed against Carson for a pro football team. Butts denies the allegations. Los Angeles Times

Art education: The Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools in Koreatown will get 28 new murals, including one from artist Shepard Fairey. It’s all a part of the Branded Arts RFK Mural Festival. Los Angeles Magazine

Stuck in the car: This video is worth watching for weary L.A. drivers: A dramatic animation showing the daily commute for people across Southern California. Curbed LA

Home sweet home: Some dreamers want to build a new neighborhood along the unfinished stub of the 710 Freeway in Pasadena. San Gabriel Valley Tribune

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Secret society: Friends of Abe is one of the most powerful political groups you’ve probably never heard of. It’s a gathering place for Hollywood’s conservatives. “Friends of Abe was a direct reaction to the George W. Bush era — or, more precisely, a reaction to liberals’ contempt for Bush.” The California Sunday Magazine

Future of party: This profile looks at state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris and her U.S. Senate campaign through the lens of Black Lives Matter and a post-Barack Obama era. “Perhaps more than any other rising Democratic star running for federal office this year, Harris embodies the future the party would like to imagine for itself in the fast-approaching post-Obama era.” New York Times

LGBT rights: A new documentary about four lesbian lawmakers and what they did to introduce new civil rights legislation in California will premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival. “Political Animals” looks at the work of former state lawmakers Carole Migden, Sheila Kuehl, Jackie Goldberg and Christine Kehoe. LA Film Festival, movie trailer

Bernie takeover: Johnie’s Coffee Shop on Fairfax, which has acted as a filming location since the actual coffee shop closed in 2000, was taken over by supporters of Bernie Sanders. They painted Sanders-inspired murals on the landmark and will keep it as Bernie’s Coffee Shop until the state’s June 7 primary. Hollywood Reporter

CRIME AND COURTS

Dark testimony: The 10-year-old son of actor Michael Jace testified Wednesday that he heard his father tell his mother she should “run to heaven” before he shot her twice in the legs outside the boy’s bedroom. Prosecutors allege Jace shot his wife, April, a total of three times — twice in the legs and once in the back — when he killed her two years ago. Jace was known for playing a police officer in the show “The Shield.” Associated Press

BUSINESS

Followers and likes: The new American Dream calls for bikinis, whey protein and a smartphone. Apps like Instagram and Snapchat allow young unknowns to act as marketing influencers and make thousands of dollars a month. “If you’ve ever wondered why Instagram and Twitter feeds are full of attractive people talking about detox teas, diet shakes, and new apps, it’s because they’re paid to.” Bloomberg

Family planning Is Shari Redstone, daughter of billionaire media mogul Sumner Redstone, leading a palace coup? Observers see her as lining up her allies for when her 92-year-old father passes away. Los Angeles Times

EDUCATION

Language barrier: Univision anchor Maria Elena Salinas was briefly heckled at the Cal State Fullerton graduation ceremony when she spoke in Spanish and when she mentioned Donald Trump. School officials said they felt the speech was appropriate. “The university’s inclusive environment demands that an array of viewpoints be voiced and, in addition, that the resulting discourse is honored and supported,” said Jeff Cook, the university’s chief communications officer. Los Angeles Times

New leader: Ellen N. Junn was named the new president of Stanislaus State. Once she takes office, 11 women will lead Cal State University campuses — more than at any time in the system’s history. “She has a long history of always putting students first, and has expertise in working to increase academic achievement among students from underserved communities,” said Cal State Trustee Hugo N. Morales. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Fresh ideas: American innovation may be waning, but it’s on the rise in the Bay Area, according to one new report. “Starting out with just four percent of U.S. patents in 1976, the Bay Area topped New York by 1995 with around 10 percent of patents. By 2008, the Bay Area comprised 16 percent of all U.S. innovation.” CityLab

TV history: Hollywood is remaking the 1977 classic “Roots.” The project’s creators hope the miniseries connects with young audiences who weren’t even alive when literally half of Americans tuned in to watch the story on TV. “It was still very daunting to even contemplate. But I felt that there was merit in trying,” said LeVar Burton, who starred in the original as Kunta Kinte. Hollywood Reporter

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Sacramento will be mostly sunny and 85 degrees. San Francisco will have some clouds as temperatures reach a high of 65. Los Angeles will start with some clouds before the sun comes out and temperatures reach 72 degrees. Riverside will have low clouds and a high of 75. In San Diego, there will be low clouds and a high of 69.

AND FINALLY

Today’s California Memory comes from DA Ward:

“Don’t forget the not-so-good of the 1950s. We were raised right up against the San Gabriels in La Crescenta. Some days in summer/fall, smog was so bad we couldn’t see the mountains towering over the schoolyard. After lunch, kids put their heads down on their desks to regularize breathing. It was just too painful to take deep breaths! Come spring, the Santa Anas would blow down the canyons and completely plaster the first two grades against the chain link. The water was wonderful, however. Artesian spring water poured out of all faucets. Coming back from college, the water tasted different. The local water system had been swallowed up.”

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.)

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.