Newsletter: Essential California: Whom did LAPD cops shoot in 2015?

Good morning. It is Wednesday, March 2. The Los Angeles Clippers have a new mascot. Meet Chuck, the California Condor. Here’s what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

When cops shoot

More than one-third of people shot by Los Angeles police last year had documented signs of mental illness. Of the 38 people shot by LAPD in 2015, 19 had a gun. Eight of the victims were African American, a disproportionate figure given African Americans make up just 9% of the city’s population. “We’re more than willing to look ourselves in the mirror and say, ‘What’s occurring and how can we do better?’” said police Chief Charlie Beck. Los Angeles Times

New air rules

Members of the South Coast Air Quality Management District want to replace the agency’s chief executive. The move comes as new board appointees vow to make air regulations less burdensome for businesses. Barry Wallerstein has led the AQMD since 1997. Los Angeles Times

Lessons from the drought

Call it the silver lining — the drought is forcing Californians to embrace conservation, recycling, desalination and storm-water capture. “All of the conflicts we have today are going to seem like a picnic if we don’t change how we use water,” said Felicia Marcus, chair of the state water board. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Warming trend: California’s snowpack is shrinking thanks to warm temperatures and dry conditions. It’s a major cause for concern as half of the state’s annual water falls between December and February. State water officials say all of that means Californians need to be saving more water than ever before. Los Angeles Times

L.A. AT LARGE

Across town: The Metro Expo Line will begin service to Santa Monica in May. Now that the light-rail line will travel from downtown to the beach, what should its nickname be? Grand to Sand? Smog to Fog? Los Angeles Times

High up above: Beginning in June, the U.S. Bank Tower will have a glass slide 1,000 feet above the streets of downtown. The slide is part of a $50-million renovation of the building that will include an observation deck and bar on the 69th and 70th floors, respectively. A ride down the slide will cost $8. Los Angeles Times

Magical world: Universal Studios Hollywood is preparing for the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Studio officials expect the new attraction to increase attendance as well as food and merchandise sales. “If the company’s Harry Potter debut in Orlando is any indication, the Hollywood opening of the Wizarding World attraction should be massive,” according to one analyst. Los Angeles Times

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Political swag: A Los Angeles-based comedian is behind these signs: “IDK NOT TRUMP THO.” “I just thought it was funny and I do a lot of dumb stuff like this,” said Dave Ross. He’s now selling T-shirts and bumper stickers with the same slogan. BuzzFeed

Voter registration: All of California’s voters are now in one database. The $98-million project will now allow election officials to easily update voter rolls when someone dies or moves. “It’s been more than a decade in coming,” said Secretary of State Alex Padilla. Los Angeles Times

CRIME AND COURTS

Deputies charged: Two San Francisco sheriff’s deputies and a former deputy were charged Tuesday with participating in a “fight club” that forced inmates to beat up one another. The fights became known when inmates complained to the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office. “Subjecting inmates who are in the care and custody of the state to degrading and inhumane treatment makes a mockery of our justice system,” said Dist. Atty. George Gascón. Los Angeles Times

Mistake made: Federal agents should not have changed the iCloud password on Syed Rizwan Farook’s phone in the wake of the Dec. 2 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, FBI Director James Comey said Tuesday. However, he still maintains that Apple should help investigators break into the secure device. “Essentially we are asking Apple: ‘Take the vicious guard dog away. Let us try and pick the lock,’” Comey said. BuzzFeed

System of justice: Orange County’s law enforcement officials basically agree that an outside agency should come in to review the use of jailhouse informants. However, Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas, assistant D.A. Ebrahim Baytieh, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and Assistant Public Defender Scott Sanders don’t agree on what went wrong in the case of Scott Dekraai. “It’s not a perfect system, but there has been no deliberate misconduct,” Hutchens said. Orange County Register

EDUCATION

Quick reversal: The chancellor of UC Davis will resign her seat on the board of the DeVry Education Group just one week after accepting the position. Assemblyman Kevin McCarty and public interest groups said they were shocked to see Linda Katehi join a for-profit college at a time when they are facing such scrutiny. Sacramento Bee

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Women in Hollywood: The former head of Sony Pictures says Hollywood has a problem with women. “The lack of female directors is a travesty,” said Amy Pascal. “There is this mountain to climb with the whole system geared for women to fail in films.” The Guardian

Animal bridge: A $55-million bridge could be the last hope for Southern California’s mountain lions. Supporters want to construct the bridge over the 101 Freeway so the animals can find that special someone and get to mating. “Without increasing connectivity and basically building wildlife crossings like a tunnel or an overpass, I think the mountain lions here are definitely going to be lost,” said Park Service wildlife ecologist Seth Riley. Washington Post

Life imitates the bar: These actresses resembled classic L.A. cocktails Sunday in their Oscar-worthy gowns. How about Birch’s #4 cocktail or a Long Island Iced Tea? Los Angeles Magazine

Where’s the beef: A big change is coming to In-N-Out’s hamburgers: They will now be made with beef that has not been treated with antibiotics. McDonald’s and Shake Shack have already implemented similar changes. SFGate

Newspaper consolidation: The Bay Area News Group is consolidating its papers. The Contra Costa Times, the Oakland Tribune and the Daily Review will consolidate into the East Bay Times. The San Mateo County Times will join the San Jose Mercury News to become Mercury News. This will mean the loss of about 20% of the newsrooms’ jobs. SFGate

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Diego will have low clouds and fog with a high of 73 degrees. Los Angeles will have clouds and a high of 76. Riverside will be sunny and 81. Sacramento will have sun and a high of 71. It will be partly sunny and 63 in San Francisco.

AND FINALLY

Today’s California Memory comes from Zack Norman:

“I was sitting on the back of a pony. The pony’s reins were tied to a large metal turnstile with four arms. My pony was nearest to the hub and as such moved slowly. Two outer rings of ponies accommodated faster ponies for larger children. The pony on which I was perched had a saddle with added metal bars designed to keep toddlers, the intended occupant, on, rather than under, the equine. I was crying because I was unable to convince mommy that I was fully capable of riding in the outermost and fastest ring. I was 3 years old, riding the ‘pony ride’ in the dirt lot on the southwest corner of La Cienega and Beverly in an era of Los Angeles history where vacant lots, even large ones, abounded and the Beverly Center had yet to displace the ponies forever.”

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.