Newsletter: Essential California: UC’s plan to get nutritious food to students

Good morning. It is Tuesday, July 12. Who wouldn’t love a free sugar rush? San Franciscans were more than happy to wait for a free Slurpee on “7-Eleven Day.” Here’s what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

School breakfast, lunch and dinner

The University of California system is launching a $3.3-million initiative to fight malnutrition. The move comes after a survey found four in 10 students do not have regular access to high-quality nutritious food. The same study found 19% of students went hungry at times. “We undertook this survey, and are acting on its findings, because the University is serious about addressing real, long-term solutions to improve the well-being of our students,” said University of California President Janet Napolitano. Los Angeles Times

A different police response

When protesters with Black Lives Matter marched through the streets of Inglewood on Sunday, the police there took a hands-off approach. Mayor James T. Butts, who is also a former police chief of Santa Monica, said that if officers had arrived in armored vehicles and riot gear, it would have amped up the crowd. “It makes them tend to feel like they’re under siege and things are more volatile,” Butts said. Los Angeles Times

Understanding that primary

Confusion. That’s the word to describe California’s June primary. “Unlike the primary for state races — where anyone could vote for any candidate — the presidential contests were governed by a patchwork of rules that differed by political party.” Los Angeles Times

Readers, we always love hearing from you. You can keep up with Alice and Shelby during the day on Twitter. Follow @TheCityMaven and @ShelbyGrad.

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Government funding: The supporters of a ballot measure that would transfer money from high-speed rail to water projects aren’t giving up yet. They’re rewriting the ballot language to attract broader support and more money. “We’re going to start with the language we have and work from there,” said Aubrey Bettencourt, the water alliance executive director. Los Angeles Times

Water needs: Can’t we all just get along? California’s Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross is ready for a truce between growers and environmentalists. “Farmers grow food for people. The ultimate user of all of that water is the person who eats the food grown by the farmer. We are all in this together,” she said. Huffington Post

A reintroduction: One environmental group wants the grizzly bear to make a return to the Sierra Nevada. The Center for Biological Diversity wants the state Fish and Game Commission to research how grizzly bears could be reintroduced to the environment. “Before you dismiss it, let’s do a feasibility study,” said Jeff Miller, a conservation advocate. Los Angeles Times

L.A. AT LARGE

Out to the ball game: This interactive maps out Clayton Kershaw’s pitches for the Dodgers. You can click through the pitches based on the outcome, player or game. Los Angeles Times

Sky over L.A.: A new drone video managed to capture some of Los Angeles’ favorite tourist attractions when there weren’t any tourists around. Curbed LA

Back in time: Director Woody Allen’s newest film, “Café Society,” takes moviegoers to Los Angeles of the 1930s. The New Yorker

House fires: A fire destroyed three homes in La Quinta Cove on Sunday. “The house was fully engulfed before firefighters got here. The flames were building pretty big in the back of the house,” said Dave Boomer, a Cove resident. Desert Sun

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Runway safety: Rep. Maxine Waters introduced a bill to prevent an LAX runway from being moved closer to homes in Westchester and Playa del Rey. Officials with Los Angeles World Airports say runway 24R needs to move 260 feet for safety reasons, but the congresswoman argues doing so would result in too much noise for neighbors. The move is part of a modernization plan approved by the City Council in 2013. City News Service

Political fine: Commerce Councilwoman Tina Baca Del Rio could face the largest-ever financial penalty against a local official for allegedly transferring campaign funds into her personal bank account. The Fair Political Practices Commission is recommending a $104,000 fine and will take up the issue at its July 21 meeting. Baca Del Rio has denied any wrongdoing. Los Angeles Times

CRIME AND COURTS

No charges: Did police have the wrong man? Anthony Padgett was released from custody Monday after San Diego police said they were not confident he’s the man who killed three homeless people and injured a fourth. “We’re going to have our outreach people telling the same thing — keep your eyes open until they definitively catch” the attacker, said Bob McElroy, president of the Alpha Project. San Diego Union-Tribune

Police reform: The city of Oakland has spent $13 million over the last 13 years to correct the corruption and abuse committed by four police officers, public records show. Some now question whether the federal oversight of the department goes far enough. “I think it’s shameful that the city has taken so long to keep its promises,” said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. San Francisco Chronicle

Sick as a dog: Jack Sparrow, a tan-coated Chihuahua, was acting kind of crazy, so his owner took him to the vet. It turned out the small dog had ingested meth. Jack Sparrow’s owner declined to treat the animal, but animal control officers were able to get to the dog and provide him with medical care. Isaiah Nathaniel Sais was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty. Los Angeles Times

HOUSING

Rent protections: When a San Francisco man’s partner committed suicide, he found himself dealing with his grief and a major rent hike. That’s because rent control protections there only apply to the master tenant on a lease. “In this sort of housing climate, morals and ethics are thrown out the window for profit. It’s pretty insensitive and wretched to do that,” said Christopher Holden. SFGate

Housing movement: Living in a small space, like a trailer or RV, is not new, but it may feel that way to the white, middle-class homebuyers who seem to be leading the “tiny house” revolution. But what about other home buyers or renters who could benefit from the smaller, more affordable housing units? “In Los Angeles, city officials seized tiny houses that had been built to house homeless people; the man who built them had wanted to construct a tiny house village in L.A. for homeless people, an idea that the mayor nixed.” BuzzFeed

BUSINESS

#NotBadForAGirlWithNoTalent: Not only is “Kim Kardashian: Hollywood” earning its namesake tens of millions of dollars a year, it’s doing so at a time when other celebrities have seen their apps fizzle out. One reason the game is such a success: attention to detail. “I would give [Glu] bikinis and be like, ‘Hurry up and mock up this bikini, because I’m going to wear it, and then you can have it live in the game!’” Kardashian said. Forbes

App for that: An Irvine-based firm is among those leading the way in home automation. In Southern California, apps that control irrigation and sprinkler systems are especially in demand. “We are on the bleeding edge of an emerging technology,” said Blossom co-founder Kaido Kert, a former Microsoft engineer. Orange County Register

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Hidden jewel: Bullocks Wilshire was an iconic department store until Southwestern Law purchased the Art Deco building in 1994 and turned it into a library. On July 31, you can revisit the architectural gem and even experience a traditional Bullocks high tea. Time Out

On the rocks: Club 33 is the only place to order alcohol within Disneyland, but there’s still plenty of options in California Adventure and Downtown Disney. “Disneyland may be the happiest place on Earth, but sometimes you need a little nudge to get us into the magic.” LAist

Inside the booth: Who is Boyd Robertson? He’s Vin Scully’s “information middleman/security blanket/work wife/gatekeeper/sidekick for every situation imaginable.” Daily News

Just dance: Ibrahem Dalati found a way to shut down protesters at the Eid Festival in Anaheim — dance. Orange County Register

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Diego will have low clouds and a high of 74 degrees. In Los Angeles, there will be clouds and a high of 80 degrees. Riverside will be sunny and 91. It’ll be sunny and 93 in Sacramento. San Francisco will be cloudy and 70.

AND FINALLY

Today’s California Memory comes from C. Theodore Lang:

“I left New Jersey on a cold, rainy day in 1973. Six hours later I exited LAX into a world of warmth, blue skies, palm trees, orange groves, jasmine-covered hillsides and translucent aquamarine-colored ocean waves. I stayed with a friend in Laguna Beach, then settled down with friends in Westwood Village. Fast forward 42 years and I’m still here. I’ve lived in a loft downtown, a garden apartment in Torrance, apartments in Santa Monica, including in the Sea Castle before it was renovated, and a house in the Valley. I still discover wonderful points of interest nearly every day.”

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.