Newsletter: Essential California: Property available. But you’ll need $1 billion.

Good morning. It is Friday, Sept. 4. A house owned by the late Huell Howser, which sits atop a volcanic cinder cone in the Mojave Desert, is for sale. Here's what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

A deadly August

Los Angeles' homicide rate is on the rise. To try to reverse that trend, the LAPD is deploying more officers in South L.A., where gang violence is to blame. "If long term we don't curb the increase in gang crime, this can lead to other, greater problems. Our numbers are going in the wrong direction," Capt. Jeff Bert said. Los Angeles Times

Paying for road repairs

Gov. Jerry Brown wants to pay for California's road repairs with a new $65 fee for all vehicle owners, plus tax increases on gasoline and diesel. His immediate challenge will be to sell the plan to Republican leaders. He's hoping to do so by incorporating some of their ideas, including the use of cap-and-trade funds and a streamlined environmental review process. Los Angeles Times

Reexamining train cars

Metrolink is reevaluating the safety of dozens of new crash-resistant passenger coaches. Back in February, one of the cab cars from Hyundai Rotem Co. was credited with reducing injuries after a train struck a pickup truck and trailer. Now, transit authorities are reexamining whether an attachment on the front of the cab car failed and allowed wreckage to get under the train's wheels, triggering a derailment. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT

Storm brewing: A new video from the National Weather Service explores what may happen to California with a possible strong El Niño system this winter. Capital Public Radio

Dangerous conditions: The drought and extreme heat are endangering California's farmworkers. Although growers are supposed to provide their employees with water, workers can still become overheated. Many don't seek medical treatment because they are in the country illegally and lack health insurance. Think Progress

Fighting over water: In a time of shortage, conflicting interests have pitted farmers against tribes in the Central Valley. Fresno Bee

L.A. AT LARGE

Opening carpool lanes: The state Senate wants you to be able to drive in the carpool lane even when you're by yourself, as long as it's not during rush hour. A bill sent to the governor would allow use of the carpool lanes on the 134 and 210 freeways. Northern California already allows such off-peak use of its carpool lanes. Los Angeles Times

Reforming shelters: About 1 of every 4 animals that went to a Los Angeles shelter last year was euthanized. Of the 14,000 that were put to death, 1,600 met their ends simply because the shelters ran out of space. That's according to a new audit from Controller Ron Galperin, who wants animal officials to publicize the health and age of shelter animals. Los Angeles Times

A billion-dollar view: The Vineyard is one of the last undeveloped properties in Beverly Hills. Past owners of the 157-acre site have included Merv Griffin and a sister of the last shah of Iran. "Now, with real estate prices soaring in Los Angeles and foreign buyers pouring in, The Vineyard is poised to be the most talked-about trophy property in years." Two partners are marketing the site at $1 billion. Hollywood Reporter

Missed opportunities: L.A. City Councilman Joe Buscaino is livid that for the second year in a row, Jordan Downs in Watts missed out on a federal grant that could have jump-started the public housing complex's redevelopment. He wants Mayor Eric Garcetti to fire the head of the Housing Authority as a result. LA Weekly

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Restricting drones: The National Press Photographers Assn. wants Gov. Jerry Brown to veto a bill that would prohibit personal drones from flying over private properties. The photographers say that the bill could impede their ability to gather information from legitimately newsworthy sites. Los Angeles Times

Gas war: There's an ad battle going on over a fossil fuel bill in the state Assembly. In a radio spot backed by the oil industry, Californians are told that the government will track and ration their gasoline usage. On the other side, environmental groups are touting the health benefits of less pollution. Los Angeles Times

Women in politics: Sen. Dianne Feinstein has some advice for women who want to run for office: Start at the local level. "One of the problems that we have, I think, are women that think they can automatically run for the top office without doing that apprenticeship. And some win, and most lose," she said at a town hall in Santa Monica. Los Angeles Times

New leadership: Democrat Anthony Rendon of Lakewood will be the next speaker of the state Assembly. He will succeed Toni Atkins of San Diego. Sacramento Bee

COURTS AND CRIME

Deputies arrested: Three sheriff's deputies from Santa Clara County are accused of beating a jail inmate to death. The men are being held without bail on suspicion of murder, conspiracy and assault under the color of authority. They are expected in court Tuesday. Los Angeles Times

The walls have ears: A man accused of kidnapping a Vallejo woman this year allegedly admitted to the crime during a jailhouse interview with a TV reporter. Though the journalist agreed not to include that information in her broadcast, it turns out that the interview was recorded by jail officials, who turned over the tape to the FBI. Wired

EDUCATION

Counting Californians: The incoming freshman classes at the UC campuses in San Diego, Irvine and Davis will have more out-of-staters than in previous years. Non-Californians have proved to be moneymakers for the state, paying $24,700 more in tuition than in-state students. The number of out-of-state students at UCLA and Berkeley, however, will remain flat. Los Angles Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Art in nature: There's a light-based art installation on Half Dome in Yosemite. SFist

Nature vs. nature: In Southern California, transplant East Coast squirrels are fighting with native West Coast squirrels for territory. There could be major consequences for the local ecosystem. Curbed LA

GOLDEN STATE PERSPECTIVES

Bounce this bill: A bill by Assemblyman Mike Gipson and supported by the Australian government would end the state's ban on the import and sale of kangaroo hide. The Times editorial board says there are enough questions about kangaroo hunting -- including concerns over cruelty -- that they deserve to be addressed more thoroughly instead of ignored via Gipson's legislative end-run. Los Angeles Times

Opening beaches: We're all familiar with wealthy beachfront dwellers who have fought to keep out the riffraff. It turns out that Los Angeles County owns miles of beautiful sand that it has kept closed to the public. In an Op-Ed article, Jenny Price writes that if the county fails to provide public access, the state should step in. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Diego will have low clouds and then sunshine and 77 degrees. Los Angeles will start with clouds, and then have sunshine and 77 degrees. In Riverside, there will be low clouds and a high of 82 degrees. San Francisco will have clouds and reach 70 degrees.

AND FINALLY

Today's California Memory comes from Donna Myrow:

My family moved to Fresno when I was 6 years old. Summers are long and hot, daily temperatures over 100 degrees. It was too hot to ride my bike, jump rope or do anything outside. One day I was tired of playing inside and curious about the heat I saw rising from the sidewalk, so I took an egg from the refrigerator and cracked it on our driveway. It was a fried egg in a few minutes. No, I didn't eat it.

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.