Newsletter: Today: On Refugees, Hollywood, Political Dramas

I'm Davan Maharaj, editor of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I don't want you to miss today.

TOP STORIES

Start Your Political Engines

We've had the summer of Donald Trump's bravado and Hillary Clinton's email. What will the fall bring? If anything is clear, it's that the Republican and Democratic parties both hope to resolve very different issues. Los Angeles Times Washington bureau chief David Lauter sets the table for what could be a pivotal post-Labor Day stretch. 

Germany: Trains, Refugees and Backlash

Germany has long wrestled with its past -- and its place in the present. As the country plans to accept up to 800,000 asylum seekers, those issues are at the fore again. Germans' largely warm welcome for refugees has polished its image. But there's unease too: over resources, an anti-migrant backlash and the country's leadership role. 

Now Playing: Cinema Desegregation 

Ava DuVernay's civil rights drama "Selma" was up for best picture at the Academy Awards this year, an exception in a field that inspired the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. Now she's looking to help others through her relaunched production company. "There's a generation of filmmakers of color and women whose primary concern is that no one will see their work," DuVernay says. "And that is a huge barrier." 

One Night in Laos

At the Kings Romans Casino in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, "you can get whatever you want, as long as you have the money," a chauffeur says. A promotional video suggests the idea was to provide luxurious spas, a golf course and helicopter tours. Critics say the zone in northwestern Laos has instead become a mecca of gambling, prostitution and illicit trade. 

GDP With Chinese Characteristics 

Global stocks have been dropping on news that China's economy might be weakening faster than expected, but can the country's financial data be trusted? The consensus among investors and many experts is that the statistics are unreliable. Some analysts say the recent market turmoil is more about a fear of the unknown. 

CALIFORNIA

-- Palm Springs is booming. Some see that as promising; others say it threatens the city's charm. 

-- Why climate law advocates are watching these black and Latino lawmakers. 

-- Don't panic, officials say, as standardized test scores for students are expected to be lower. 

-- A law school continues to fight a requirement to maintain a minimum bar passage rate. 

NATION-WORLD

-- On Labor Day, President Obama ordered paid sick leave for workers at federal contractors.

-- Find out which countries are taking in Syrian refugees.  

-- Who will face a TV comedian in the Guatemalan presidential runoff? It's too close to call.

-- A Kentucky clerk offers a few ways to get out of jail and refuse marriage licenses to gay couples.

-- An up-close look at Yellowstone's steaming, splashing, roaring spectacle.

BUSINESS

-- Digital technology is revolutionizing how voice-over actors get gigs. 

-- Making a new theme park ride is a risky proposition. Witness Luigi's Flying Tires at Disney California Adventure. 

-- David Lazarus: How to avoid the fees that bring billions in revenue to big banks. 

SPORTS

-- The Dodgers roll -- and ricochet -- on with a 7-5 win over the Angels.

-- Documents provide a look at the lengths to which the city of Carson has gone in the past to lure the NFL. 

ENTERTAINMENT

-- John Lydon, a.k.a. Johnny Rotten, has settled down but still has the punk attitude. 

-- The faith-based drama "War Room" takes box-office glory on a slow Labor Day weekend.

-- Martin Milner has died. He starred in the TV series "Adam-12" and "Route 66," playing "strait-laced conservatives," as he told The Times in 1992. 

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- ProPublica looks at corporations' use of data and algorithms and why that is raising new legal questions.

-- How Noel Coward went to Las Vegas and encountered the mob, as told by the BBC. 

-- Inside the alternative universe of Soviet arcade games.

ONLY IN CALIFORNIA

"A haven for misfits." Think "San Francisco museums," and the Tenderloin District is the last place that comes to mind. Known mostly for its dire conditions, the area has a new center devoted to uncovering its hidden past and changing present. Walking tours, anyone? See how it is trying to open eyes -- and minds.

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.