Newsletter: Essential California: L.A. stadiums tell NFL, ‘No thanks’

Good morning. It is Wednesday, Aug. 5. The National Park Service is tracking two mountain lion kittens in Southern California. No surprise here — the baby photos are adorable. Here's what is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES 

Gun control

Tired of congressional inaction on gun control, Los Angeles has joined a growing number of cities and states taking on the issue on themselves. L.A. wants handguns to be locked up or disabled when they're not in use. The proposed ordinance, based on similar laws in Sunnyvale and San Francisco, is "the strongest, most well thought out, most defensible, most important, most significant step forward on safe storage of firearms in the state of California," Councilman Paul Krekorian said. Los Angeles Times

Voting rights

It's the latest example of California's elected officials reconsidering tough-on-crime policies. Secretary of State Alex Padilla will not prohibit 45,000 state felons from voting. "It is not lost on me that persons of color are disproportionately represented in our correctional institutions and that undeniable disparities exist," Padilla said. Los Angeles Times

Qualified drivers

The war between Uber and Los Angeles' taxi industry rages on. At least four Uber drivers ticketed by LAX police turned out to have criminal convictions that would prevent them from operating a taxi in the city. The men had been convicted of manslaughter, child exploitation, driving under the influence and identity theft. That information, which was independently verified by the L.A. Times, came to light thanks to a lobbyist for the cab drivers. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT

Water comparisons: This graphic shows just how much water it takes to do routine, household activities, and how that compares with the water used by golf and ski resorts. "The average Palm Springs golf course uses the same amount of water in one day that a family of four does in five years." Mother Jones

Warm waters: Sockeye salmon have fallen victim to Washington's drought. Water in the Columbia River has warmed to the point where the fish can no longer survive. Los Angeles Times

Water cops: A Sacramento Superior Court judge has given the green light for state water officials to go after districts accused of illegally diverting water. "This certainly is a win," said an attorney for the State Water Resources Control Board. Sacramento Bee

Hope for desal: San Diego is banking on sea water to help it survive the drought. It's embracing the largest desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere. "With snowpacks at zero percent and reservoirs looking more like puddles, engineers in San Diego are preparing to hook up a new $1-billion desalination plant that will provide enough water for 300,000 thirsty people each day." Wired

L.A. AT LARGE

No place to go: Los Angeles-area venues are hardly rolling out the red carpet for the NFL's return to the region. The Memorial Coliseum is so far the only venue willing to temporarily host a team should professional football return. Los Angeles Times

Summer night: At Temple and Glendale, columnist Steve Lopez discovers a night scene that revolves around public tennis courts and cheap tacos. "It's a cheap date in an expensive city — the kind of place you don't even think about as a place but long for if you ever leave," he writes. Los Angeles Times

Remembering Watts: In the wake of the 1965 riots, Watts became a symbol of "black resistance and of black resilience" in a way that Crenshaw, Leimert Park — and later Compton — could never be, according to writer Erin Aubry Kaplan. "It showed black people to themselves, reminding us at key moments that the good life had less to do with swimming pools and two-car garages than with attaining justice for all," she writes. Los Angeles Magazine

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Bribery allegations: It is the latest twist is a high-profile political corruption case. In a new court filing, attorneys for Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow say the FBI found evidence that San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee accepted bribes yet chose to prosecute the mayor's opponents instead. One of those people was former state Sen. Leland Yee. A spokesman for the mayor says there is no evidence of any wrongdoing. Los Angeles Times

Rave moratorium: In addition to the two women who died of suspected drug overdoses at the HARD Summer music festival, 30 additional people were hospitalized for drugs or alcohol. That gave the L.A. County Board of Supervisors even more reasons to consider a temporary ban on raves. "As we move forward, more measures need to be considered to create a safe environment for all patrons and a zero tolerance for illicit drugs," said Supervisor Hilda Solis. Los Angeles Times

COURTS AND CRIME

Tutor sentenced: A tutor who allegedly changed grades for students at Corona del Mar High School was sentenced to one year in jail. Timothy Lance Lai, 29, pleaded guilty to 20 counts of computer access and fraud and one felony count of second-degree commercial burglary. Los Angeles Times

Abandoned infant: A newborn boy who still had his umbilical cord attached was found abandoned in a stroller near USC. The infant was taken to a hospital, where he is in stable condition. Authorities are looking for his family. Los Angeles Times

Suspected firestarter: A 34-year-old woman from Redding was arrested for allegedly starting 14 fires along  Highway 299 and Old Oregon Trail. None of those fires is connected to the 22 wildfires currently burning in California. Los Angeles Times

Dangerous rescue: Video footage shows a Northern California deputy dragging a man to safety just moments before his vehicle is smashed by an oncoming train. No one was seriously hurt. Los Angeles Times

HOUSING

Sales prices: Experts believe home prices in the Bay Area will continue to increase into 2016 but that, at some point soon, the bubble will burst. That's mainly because job growth will likely slow and mortgage interest rates will rise. "There is no question that a year from now, prices will be higher. Three years from now, that's a harder question to answer," according to one real estate consultant. San Francisco Chronicle

Housing funds: The rents for 15,000 affordable housing units in Los Angeles could jump to market rates over the next five years. To prevent the eviction of low-income families who can't afford the higher rents, Councilman Gil Cedillo wants to give those landlords financial incentives to remain affordable. He's willing to start with $9 million in his own district. 89.3 KPCC

CULTURE

New park space: The Walt Disney Co. has sparked speculation it will expand its theme park in Anaheim. The company just purchased three parcels of land near Disneyland. Fans are hoping the new area will feature characters related to Star Wars or Marvel's superheroes. Los Angeles Times

From on high: This series of photographs captures Los Angeles from above. Locations include Park La Brea and Marina del Rey. Refinery29

Lost whale: A baby gray whale has been hanging out in Marina del Rey ever since he was separated from his mother. Officials with the Marine Animal Rescue are monitoring the situation but will only lend a hand if the whale, who is likely hungry and in distress, beaches himself. LAist

GOLDEN STATE PERSPECTIVES

Policing Watts: Author Norman Edelen, a former LAPD cop, jarringly recounts what it was like to be among the small handful of black police officers working with the nearly all-white force patrolling Watts before the uprising in 1965: "When I checked in [at the police station], I opened my locker and there was a shrunken head with an NAACP bumper sticker. I just threw it in the trash. You should've seen the bulletin board. You'd think it was the bulletin board for the Klan."  Los Angeles Times

 CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Francisco will have low clouds and sunshine at 71 degrees. San Diego will also start with some clouds before the sun comes out and temperatures warm to 81 degrees. Los Angeles will reach 88 degrees, with sunshine poking through the clouds. In Riverside, it will be mostly sunny and 99 degrees.

AND FINALLY

Sightseeing buses soon could be pulling into Encino. The family of the late Michael Jackson is considering opening up the home where he recorded "Billie Jean" and "Beat It."

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.