Newsletter: Essential California: Great escape in Kern County

Good morning. It is Friday, Oct. 30. Sad news: The English bulldog known for his impressive surfing and skateboarding skills has died. Tillman was 10 years old. Here's what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

Renovation plans

USC expects to spend $270 million to give the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum its first major renovation in 20 years. The preliminary plans, which will be finalized before going up for approval from the Coliseum Commission next year, include replacing every single seat in the stadium and adding suites, a new sound system and improved press box. University officials have not yet raised the funds needed for the project. Los Angeles Times

LAUSD settlement

The Los Angeles Unified School District must pay out $6 million to two boys who were sexually abused by their teacher, a jury has decided. The teacher in that case, Paul Chapel III, was convicted in 2012 of committing lewd acts on 13 children and is currently serving 25 years in prison. Los Angeles Times

Teen's redemption

Teenager Stephanie Valdivia had a long history of problems, including substance abuse, poor schooling and a long rap sheet. A judge decided to give her a final shot at rehabilitation in the juvenile system in September 2013, when he sentenced her to a year at Camp Joseph Scott, a probation facility for girls in Santa Clarita. This is her story. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Water refund: The city of Newport Beach will reimburse two country clubs, a church and a school district that were overcharged for recycled water. The recycled, or reclaimed, water was used for irrigation. Los Angeles Times

L.A. AT LARGE

Vending lawsuit: Street vendors are suing the city of Los Angeles, accusing police officers of confiscating their carts and destroying them. The federal lawsuit comes as the City Council is considering whether to legalize sidewalk vendors. The plaintiffs here are represented by the same attorneys who previously sued city leaders for taking the belongings of Angelenos living on the streets. Los Angeles Times

Warning signs: What vetting process did USC undertake in 2013 when it hired Steve Sarkisian to coach the football team? Emails obtained by The Times show that a former USC linebacker tried to warn university officials about Sarkisian’s off-field behavior that had “caused issues” during his time at the University of Washington. Los Angeles Times

Olympic bidding: With Los Angeles looking to host the 2024 Summer Games, Mayor Eric Garcetti and LA24 Chairman Casey Wasserman went to Washington, D.C., for an event of the Assn. of National Olympic Committees. It drew about 1,200 delegates from around the world — including members of International Olympic Committee who will vote on the winning city. Los Angeles Times

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Political coalition: To make it to the general election next November, Rep. Loretta Sanchez will need a strong turnout from her two bases — Latinos and Southern Californians. And she may even need some support from Republicans to reach the U.S. Senate. "Crafting a campaign that appeals to this patchwork of voters, many with divergent views on taxes, immigration and other divisive issues, could be difficult." Los Angeles Times

Civic vision: In her first State of the City speech, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said her four priorities are public safety, equitable housing, robust transit infrastructure and trustworthy government. “We must turn toward each other, not on each other, as we navigate these changing times,” she said. SFGate

What’s next? Now that Rep. Paul Ryan is the House speaker, what will become of Kevin McCarthy, the Bakersfield congressman who all but had the job locked up? “Leaders from McCarthy's heavily Republican district were angry and disappointed that he did not become speaker, but they do not appear angry at him.” Los Angeles Times

CRIME AND COURTS

Jury duty: How much is love, affection and companionship worth? Jurors had little more than that to go on when they were asked to award a settlement to the mother of a schizophrenic man who died after volunteering for an experimental drug study, according to a reporter’s firsthand account of the case. LA Weekly

Daring escape: Kern County sheriff’s deputies recaptured one of their own, again. Edward Tucker, who has been on unpaid leave since 2014, was arrested twice in the last week. The second time, Tucker was able to slip out of handcuffs and let himself out of a patrol car. The escape was caught on tape. Los Angeles Times

HOUSING

Housing demands: In one Los Angeles housing development, home prices start at $115 million. For that much money, you can bet the amenities are pretty over the top. “Why would you not need four swimming pools?” said the developer of one home that’s expected to go on the market at $500 million once it’s complete. Wall Street Journal

New digs: Snapchat has a new party pad in Venice. The tech company is renting a penthouse for $22,500 a month. It’s unclear how it will be used though sales events and VIP receptions seem likely. BuzzFeed

EDUCATION

Price comparisons: The California State University system is considering a tuition increase. If those fees seem out of reach there’s always Germany, a country that provides free college degrees. Here are four reasons why that’s the case. Los Angeles Times

GOLDEN STATE PERSPECTIVES

Report card: How is Jerry Brown doing as governor? The Times editorial board gives him a B+. “With Brown at the helm, the state has an unconventional but responsible adult in charge who may or may not get his important work done before he leaves office for the last time in January 2019.” Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

New foods: A Los Angeles-based company is now using 3D printers to make food: an onion cube for soup, a sugar sculpture for dessert. It’s only a matter of time before we all turn into Violet Beauregarde, enjoying our three-courses dinners via a piece of chewing gum. Los Angeles Times

Robot revolution: Engineers at UC San Diego are developing robots that can interpret subtle facial expressions. Ultimately, the robots may be able to anticipate the needs of their human owner and are “safe, useful and autonomous in any environment,” said Albert Pisano, dean of UC San Diego’s Jacobs School of Engineering. San Diego Union-Tribune

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Francisco will be sunny with a high of 72. In Riverside, it will be windy and sunny with a high of 84 degrees. Los Angeles will be sunny and 87. It will be 82 and sunny in San Diego.

AND FINALLY

Today's California Memory comes from Graeme Roberts:

“I first visited California in 1987, staying at a Howard Johnson’s near Disneyland just off the I-5. At the time, the motorways in my native Auckland, New Zealand, would quiet down by about midnight. I remember waking up at about 3 a.m. and seeing all lanes of the I-5 still full of cars and wondering where on earth everyone was going at that time of night? It was my introduction to a buzzing city I have since visited many times and always enjoy. Especially Santa Monica.”

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.