Newsletter: Essential California: San Bernardino is #SBStrong

Good morning. It is Tuesday, Dec. 8. San Bernardino is rallying: #SBStrong. Here's what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

Radicalized 'for some time'

The San Bernardino shooters had been radicalized "for some time," but investigators are still trying to determine if there are direct links to Middle Eastern terror groups, the FBI said. Officials added that Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, had gone to gun ranges in the Los Angeles area in the days before Wednesday's massacre, which killed 14 people and injured 21. Los Angeles Times

Hard-line school

Malik attended a chain of schools that experts say promote anti-Western views and hard-line practices — including gender segregation and veils for women — that could encourage some adherents to lash out against non-believers. School officials insist they don’t promote terrorism. Los Angeles Times

Strength will help healing

The head of the San Bernardino County Public Health Department was at the holiday party when the couple opened fire. She had a message for the public. “I ask that you come together and hold each other strong, because it is this strength that will help us heal. And I want you to every day be grateful for those of us that were spared,” said Trudy Raymundo. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Big water users speak out: The biggest water users in the affluent town of Rancho Santa Fe insist they’ve taken steps to slash water use during the drought — including buying special equipment from Australia. Los Angeles Times

Snowfall continues: The Sierras have already enjoyed an unusually snowy beginning of winter. Now, a new storm later this week is expected to dump up to another foot of snow in some areas. AccuWeather

L.A. AT LARGE

Gas leak fallout: The city of Los Angeles is suing Southern California Gas Co. over how it handled a natural gas leak that has sent sickening fumes into Porter Ranch and caused hundreds of families to leave their homes. Officials claim the company broke the law. Los Angeles Times

Dueling banks: Executives at BBCN Bancorp and Wilshire Bancorp, the nation’s two largest Korean American banks, announced a merger of their institutions. But rival Hanmi Financial wants to make a deal of its own for BBCN. Los Angeles Times

LAUSD near choice: The search for a new superintendent appears to be reaching its final stage, though the candidates remain under wraps. The school board plans to interview candidates Dec. 13. Los Angeles Times

Tower makeover: The U.S. Bank building, the tallest in L.A. right now, is getting a major makeover in additional to the observation deck being built on of the skyscraper. Los Angeles Downtown News

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Brown’s gun plan: In the wake of the San Bernardino and Paris terrorist attacks, Gov. Jerry Brown is calling for stricter gun control laws. Congress, he said, should “get off their partisan seat and do something to protect the American people.” Los Angeles Times

The San Bernardino effect: The San Bernardino attack appears to pushing some rare bipartisanship in Washington. Congress and the White House appear to agree on legislation that would slap new travel restrictions on foreign visitors to the U.S. who have recently visited Syria, Iraq, Iran or Sudan. Los Angeles Times

Trump’s radical proposal: Donald Trump, meanwhile, called for the U.S. to temporarily bar Muslims from coming to America until officials “figure out what is going on.” Trump's rivals quickly denounced him. Los Angeles Times

Campaign fines: Foes of an L.A. ballot measure requiring adult-film actors to wear condoms hid major funding from foreign interests, the state ethics agency said Monday. The opponents have agreed to pay $61,500 in fines. Los Angeles Times

CRIME AND COURTS

Sarkisian goes to court: The USC coaching saga is entering the courtroom. Former USC football coach Steve Sarkisian sued the school Monday, claiming that Athletic Director Pat Haden fired him in October instead of allowing him to seek treatment for alcoholism. Los Angeles Times

Mother charged: Authorities say a Compton woman hid her pregnancy from family and friends. And after she gave birth, she buried the baby next to a bike trail. She’s now been charged with attempted murder. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA COMMENTARY

The new downtown: There is a price to be paid as downtown L.A.’s Broadway — once a marketplace for Latino immigrants — goes upscale. Los Angeles Times

Going forward: San Bernardino, a city of great economic and racial diversity, could lead the way in showing the rest of the world how to deal with terror and fear. San Bernardino Sun

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Lasting bonds: At 95, Mila Page is hosting kindergarten coffees to stay close with the children of fellow Holocaust survivors. The tradition started five years ago when longtime family friend Mona Shafer Edwards reached out after the death of her mother. “We clung to each other. Most of us didn’t have families, and so our friends became our family,” Page said of coming to Los Angeles after World War II. Los Angeles Times

Whale close encounter: A dramatic video shows a Santa Cruz paddleboarder’s close encounter with a whale. SFGate

Street mystery: What’s the story about those diagonal ghost streets that break up Southern California’s grid? Here’s the solution to a mystery only Roger Rabbit could solve. BLDGBLOG

Chicano photos: These photos offer an “essential lesson” in understanding California Chicano history. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Diego will be mostly sunny and 74 degrees. In Los Angeles, it will be partly cloudy and 80 degrees. Riverside will have a high of 85. San Francisco will be cloudy and 62 degrees.

AND FINALLY

Today's California Memory comes from Ed Mitchell:

"My family moved from Topeka to South Laguna (now part of Laguna) before Pearl Harbor was bombed and WWII started. One night after the war started, we drove the coast highway from Laguna to San Diego, then a two-lane country-like road with no center divider, and Civil Defense volunteers were along the road ensuring that all the cars turned out the lights and had only the parking lights on. They feared a Japanese attack."

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.