Newsletter: Essential California: What happened to plans to end homelessness?

Good morning. It is Thursday, Oct. 1. Here's what is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

Deep distrust

In the community of Hawaiian Gardens, a police shooting has revived the distrust between many residents and sheriff's deputies. This is a city where 400 of its 14,000 residents are covered by a gang injunction. Now, Mayor Barry Bruce wants the FBI to lead an investigation into the July shooting death of Johnny Ray Anderson. "The department, the way they treat people in the community, it's like everyone is a gangster in Hawaiian Gardens. No one's a regular person," Bruce said. Los Angeles Times

No love lost

California could be coming into a lot of power in Washington, D.C. If Kevin McCarthy becomes the speaker of the House, it could be the first time in history that the speaker and minority leader have hailed from the same state. But whether the state will benefit remains unclear, as McCarthy and Nancy Pelosi have virtually no relationship. "The lack of a relationship between the two epitomizes the deep partisan divisions that have paralyzed Congress' ability to pass major legislation, or even keep the government open." Los Angeles Times 

Overtime allegations

Federal authorities are investigating allegations that a UC Berkeley custodial contractor underpaid workers who cleaned up after football games and other sporting events, denying them overtime pay for weeks that stretched to 80 or 90 hours. The probe was launched by the U.S. Department of Labor, according to the agency and former and current employees. Los Angeles Times

Oil purchase

Exxon Mobil's damaged plant in Torrance could be coming back to life. A New Jersey-based oil refining company is buying the facility for $537.5 million. Ultimately -- but not immediately -- the move could mean lower gas prices for California. Consumers in California have not benefited from the same level of gas price drops this summer as the rest of the nation because of the refinery problems. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT

Danger ahead: Six months ago, community activists warned that the Salton Sea was headed toward environmental catastrophe. Since then, almost nothing has been done about it. "With the state gripped in drought, the task of getting attention for the Salton Sea has become daunting, some might say impossible." Los Angeles Times

Water supply: In Folsom Lake, docks are sitting on dry, cracked land. The main water source for the Sacramento suburbs is at 18% capacity. "El Niño predictions for reservoirs like Folsom are speculative at this point, but it is possible that the El Niño could significantly improve water supply conditions," a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said. SFGate

Rat patrol: In the Carrizo Plain four hours north of L.A. lives the giant kangaroo rat. One writer went in search to see whether the animal is surviving the drought. "There wasn't a rat in sight. Most years, typical years, they'd be hopping around like crazy, outnumbering everything else we could spot." The New Yorker

L.A. AT LARGE

Top university: Once again, Caltech was rated the top research university in the world by Times Higher Education magazine of Great Britain. It's the fifth straight year that the honor has gone to the Pasadena campus. Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum said the ranking recognizes Caltech's strength in "venturing into unexplored realms, defining new fields in science and engineering, and pushing interdisciplinary boundaries in the service of discovery." Los Angeles Times

Quake preparedness: The city of Los Angeles is rolling out cellphone towers that could remain functional even in the event of a major earthquake. It will take two years to get the plan in place, so Mayor Eric Garcetti advises having a preparedness plan that doesn't rely on using a phone. Curbed LA

No nostalgia: Get rid of Angels Flight. That's the suggestion of one Angeleno who thinks that people should just get over their nostalgia for the short, steep rail line. "Angels Flight is like the landmark version of a cigarette: something many enjoyed back in the 20th century that has since proved dangerous." Los Angeles Magazine

Good sports: After the Dodgers won the National League West by defeating the rival San Francisco Giants, the people who run Metro's Twitter handle decided to have a little fun. First they trolled San Francisco's Muni transit system, and then they went after the MTA in New York and fans of the Mets, who will play the Dodgers in the National League Divisional Series. LAist

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Failure to launch: What happened to the city's and county's 2006 efforts to end homelessness in a decade? Columnist Steve Lopez writes that there were some successes and little follow-through. "What does that say about us … that in the richest country in the world, where we have enormous capacity for innovation … we have massive encampments on our streets and let senior citizens, veterans and people who are gravely disabled … fend for themselves," said John Maceri with the Ocean Park Community Center and Lamp Community. Los Angeles Times

No referendum: Opponents of California's new vaccination law failed to get enough signatures for a referendum to overturn it. Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law in June that removed the personal-belief exemption that had allowed parents to enroll their children in kindergarten without getting vaccinations. Los Angeles Times

Off to the farm: A wolf-dog named Karma is getting a second chance at life. Orange County Animal Care had been directed to euthanize the animal after she allegedly killed a cat, but the Board of Supervisors stepped in, and now a judge has agreed to let Karma live out her days on a farm in North Carolina. Orange County Register

CRIME AND COURTS

Muralist killed: An artist was shot and killed in Oakland on Tuesday as he worked on a public mural. Antonio Ramos was working on a piece designed by schoolchildren, who reimagined themselves as superheroes who could solve problems in their community. The gunman opened fire about 10:30 a.m. as the artist worked under the Interstate 580 overpass, police said. Los Angeles Times

More accusations: A former Mrs. America and two other women are the latest to accuse comedian Bill Cosby of sexual abuse. More than 40 women in total have accused Cosby of assaulting them. Many of their stories follow a similar pattern -- they say they blacked out from a drugged beverage and woke up to find they had been assaulted. Cosby has denied the allegations. Los Angeles Times

Discounted fines: Stuck with unpaid parking tickets? The state has a new amnesty program for you. Drivers who have tickets that should have been paid before Jan. 1, 2013, can now get discounts on the fines ranging from 50% to 80%. Los Angeles Times

Doggy care: "Simpsons" co-creator Sam Simon was known for his devotion to animals. When he died in March, his 5-year-old Cane Corso was sent to live with a trainer. The annual costs for Columbo, which includes acupuncture, supplements and gluten-free, regionally sourced food, come in at a cool $140,000. Now, the new trainer is in a fight with Simon's estate to pay for the lavish canine care. Hollywood Reporter

No charges: Caitlyn Jenner will not face charges for a deadly crash on Pacific Coast Highway. Prosecutors determined that Jenner applied her brakes two seconds before a crash that caused her to rear-end a Lexus. The Lexus was pushed into oncoming traffic, where it was hit by a Hummer. The impact killed the driver of the Lexus. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Missing animal: There's a rooster missing from a feed store in Bellflower. Scooter was such a beloved animal that there's now a $320 reward for his return. "He is part of our home. We love him," said Louisa Moore, the store manager for Blacksmith's Corner. Daily News

Don't need a license: What's it like to ride in one of Google's self-driving cars? A reporter who does not have a driver's license likened it to "a Toyota Prius driven by a law-abiding, cautious driver." Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Francisco will have clouds and possible showers, with highs reaching 69 degrees. San Diego will be partly sunny and 82. In Riverside, it will be sunny and 90 degrees. Los Angeles will be sunny with highs expected to reach 86.

AND FINALLY 

Today's California Memory comes from Laurie Mika:

"I remember, as a kid growing up in the 1960s in Tustin, all of the 'smog' days when we were told to stay inside and not breathe the air outside. I remember the distinct look of the sky in pinkish-brown hues and the particular smell of smog that hung in the air and made my eyes sting and my lungs hurt. It truly is incredible that this is mostly a thing of the past and that clean air initiatives really did work."

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.