Newsletter: A governor, a fight and California’s public pensions

Good morning. It is Saturday, Oct. 8. Here’s what you don’t want to miss this weekend:

TOP STORIES

Police shootings: The Los Angeles Police Commission is considering sweeping changes to the way the Police Department handles officer-involved shootings. The civilian panel is expected to consider when videotapes of police shootings should be released. Officers also may receive training designed to reduce the number of shootings. Los Angeles Times

Just for men: At this California college, the men have a safe space of their own. Los Angeles Times

Pension plan: Gov. Pete Wilson tried to exert more control over the state’s public pensions when he took office in 1991. But his plan backfired, and the effects still are being felt today. Los Angeles Times

Youthful inspiration: Why did Rep. Loretta Sanchez “dab” at this week’s debate with state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris? Because her makeup artist’s 9-year-old daughter told her to. Los Angeles Times

PR off the rails: FOX Searchlight invested in a public relations team to help filmmaker Nate Parker navigate the press junket for “Birth of a Nation” after reporters began asking about his rape acquittal from 1999. But it doesn’t seem Parker took any of their advice. “It’s maddening to watch it go so wrong,” said one producer. Hollywood Reporter

Thoughts on women: An 11-year-old recording of Donald Trump making lewd comments about women at a Los Angeles-area studio has become the latest turn in the presidential race. Washington Post

Fill ’em up: Water in California’s reservoirs is up 69%, but drought conditions persist. Six reservoirs owned by the Central Valley Project had 4.9 million acre-feet as of Oct. 1. “We hope that water supply conditions improve ... but know we could be facing a sixth consecutive year of drought,” said David Murillo, regional director for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Sacramento Bee

Bring your own: The Mount Wilson Observatory is out of water. That means no flush toilets and no water at the drinking fountains. 89.3 KPCC

Youth today: Teens and preteens are embracing this lip syncing app. “Two years later, the app has more than 11 million videos being uploaded per day and more than 100 million users.” California Sunday Magazine

THIS WEEK’S MOST POPULAR STORIES IN ESSENTIAL CALIFORNIA

1. This retired schoolteacher ended up in the emergency room after she received a $16,000 bill from the L.A. Department of Water and Power. Columnist Steve Lopez explains. Los Angeles Times

2. A serious and devastating earthquake will strike Southern California one day. Here’s how you can prepare yourself and your family. Los Angeles Times

3. The city of Sacramento was confronted this week with a videotape that appeared to show police officers trying to run over a mentally ill homeless man. Los Angeles Times

4. It’s the real billionaires of Orange County. Orange County Register

5. This entertainment reporter went public with the aggressive censorship of Ben Affleck and/or his public relations rep. Hollywood Reporter

ICYMI, HERE ARE THIS WEEK’S GREAT READS

What happened: How one of L.A.’s most promising writers lost her way. From a glittering start, she became homeless and died at 55 with many friends asking why. Los Angeles Magazine

Troubled waters: An investigative look at how arbitration agreements are affecting the world’s shipping employees. KCRW

I do: How’s this for a celebrity perk: free wedding dresses. New York Times

LOOKING AHEAD

Tuesday: The Orange County Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting to discuss the way some airlines do business at John Wayne Airport.

Thursday: The California Public Utilities Commission will meet in Long Beach to discuss large-scale outages.

Friday: The Silicon Beach at USC conference will be held.

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.