Newsletter: Essential California: He spent 39 years behind bars for murders he didn’t commit. How he was finally freed

Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It is Saturday, Nov. 25. Here’s what you don’t want to miss this weekend:

TOP STORIES

Freed: The inside story of a Ventura County man who spent 39 years behind bars for murders officials now say he didn’t commit. A key break came by chance, when the detective discovered that the evidence boxes had not been destroyed but were sitting forgotten, intact and in storage. New tests found that a key piece of evidence used to convict Craig Coley did not carry any of his DNA. Los Angeles Times

Aftermath: “The family basically wasn’t the same after that. We went from ‘Happy Days’ to hell in one weekend.” — Lou Smaldino, whose grandmother was one of the victims of the Manson family. With the death of Charles Manson, family members of the victims say they want to move on but know the mass murderer will always be a part of their lives. Los Angeles Times

Shopping tally: Black Friday may not be the all-important indicator of the holiday sales season it once was, but that hasn’t stopped many shoppers from waking up early in search of bargains. This year was tamer than the crazy pre-Amazon days. But the deal did draw big crowds to malls and shopping centers that in recent years have been hemorrhaging shoppers. Los Angeles Times

Plus:

-- In an era of explosive growth for online buying, retailers and shoppers are showing renewed interest in a humble purchasing device that uses paper instead of pixels. Yes, the catalog is back. Los Angles Times

-- One side of retail that is booming: cosmetics. And everyone credits the rise of the selfie. New York Times

-- Some people insist they are done with Black Friday sales. Mercury News

-- More people are buying on their phones. TechCrunch

Getting ready: Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said he expects his department — which already is handling more than two dozen allegations of sexual misconduct by Hollywood figures — to investigate even more. Los Angeles Times

Consequences: An arcane provision in the House tax reform bill could cost California affordable housing developers millions of dollars. If it ends up in a bill that becomes law, it could reduce the amount of homeless housing that could be built with L.A.’s $1.2-billion Proposition HHH bond measure. Los Angeles Times

This land is your land: California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and almost a dozen of his counterparts have denounced a National Park Service proposal to increase entrance fees at 17 popular parks, including some in the state. Los Angeles Times

Denied: The California Legislature has refused to release additional information on sexual harassment complaints requested by the Los Angeles Times amid widespread scrutiny of how the Capitol handles such matters. Los Angeles Times

Tom Steyer update: Not all Democrats love the Trump impeachment campaign from the California billionaire. Wall Street Journal

Backlash: Revelations that residents in one desert town were billed thousands of dollars by a law firm for minor infractions are getting a lot of attention. Desert Sun

Touching story: An outpouring of support for an LAPD officer whose sons were killed in a Carson accident. Daily Breeze

Don’t go in the water: Dramatic video of a great white shark hooked off the San Clemente Pier. Orange County Register

THIS WEEK’S MOST POPULAR STORIES IN ESSENTIAL CALIFORNIA

1. The story of Mike, a homeless man who was well known in Lawndale. Daily Breeze

2. Two books examine the beautiful Airstream myth and painful RV reality of life on the road. Los Angeles Times

3. A Beverly Hills youth soccer referee calls it quits and doesn’t hold back. LA Weekly

4. A Malibu church was pressured to end its dinners for the homeless, with some saying the meals attract the needy to the upscale city. Los Angeles Times

5. Columnist Steve Lopez says a house that sold for nearly $800,000 over asking price speaks to the inequity of California. Los Angeles Times

ICYMI, HERE ARE THIS WEEK’S GREAT READS

Only in L.A.: The tale of a new mural in a local schoolyard includes a dash of Charles Dickens and a hint of Hustler Hollywood. It’s also a telling look at how business gets done and at the differences between public schools in areas of poverty and privilege. Los Angeles Times

Outdoors ethics: Offering a practical guide to the San Diego region’s largely unknown hikes and points of interest, Hiddensandiego.net has become something of a local sensation, garnering a respectable 2.4 million hits a year after less than a decade in existence. It covers everything from spooky forests, tunnels, cemeteries and abandoned buildings to gorgeous views and waterfalls. But some say its users are also breaking the law. San Diego Union-Tribune

Unlikely help: Trailing in the race for governor, former L.A. mayor Antonio Villaraigosa might get some help from Republicans. San Francisco Chronicle

Trying to educate: A San Jose Muslim teacher wearing a headscarf became the subject of cruel bullying by her students. Now educators are trying to deal with the issue. Mercury News

Getting along: Vallejo is one of America’s most racially diverse cities, and residents say they see racial harmony. But that doesn’t mean there are no problems. New York Times

Plus: One black reporter’s experience with the racial divide. “Some of my oldest and dearest friends are black guys.” New York Times

Rescued: The story of how animals at a quirky wine country zoo were saved during the wildfires. Press Democrat

And if you need it: 101 things to love about L.A. (Still waiting for the 101 things to hate about L.A.) Curbed Los Angeles

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Benjamin Oreskes and Shelby Grad. Also follow them on Twitter @boreskes and @shelbygrad.