Newsletter: Today: Optimism in Syria. Congress’ Rich and Poor.

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 

Russians Bring Out the Joy in Damascenes? 

From the outside, war-torn Syria appears devoid of hope. In Damascus, though, interviews with some residents suggest a cautiously upbeat mood. As Patrick J. McDonnell reports from the tightly controlled capital, Russia's military intervention on behalf of President Bashar Assad has lifted the spirits of many pro-government residents.

Who Makes Money at the L.A. Fair? Managers Do

A hotel and conference center. A catering company. Raves. These are all the business of the Los Angeles County Fair Assn., formed in 1940 to promote agriculture. Over the years, the nonprofit morphed into something closer to a conglomerate -- a far cry from just crowning prize-winning hogs. A Times investigation reveals that its managers were highly paid even as the association lost money. How high? Tax filings show the fair's chief executive and four members of his executive team received pay and perks totaling $8.75 million from 2010 through 2013. 

How Much Is Your Congress Member Worth?

One owns a vineyard on the Napa River. One has a student loan balance of at least $100,000. And one founded a car alarm company and provided the voice that says, "Please step away from the car." They're all members of California's 55-person delegation to Congress. The Los Angeles Times used data compiled by the Washington news outlet Roll Call to create an interactive list that shows how much they're worth and details each asset and liability disclosed. But the information also demonstrates how hard it is to truly know their assets and liabilities. 

One More Twist for the Keystone XL Pipeline

The proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry crude oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast, has been a political lightning rod for years. Now, the company that wants to build it has asked the Obama administration to press pause on its review of the project. That's a turnabout for TransCanada, which has long complained of delays in the process. The final decision could be left to President Obama's successor. 

You Too, Audi and Porsche?

Environmental regulators have widened the scope of the Volkswagen emissions-test cheating scandal. In the crosshairs now: an array of Audi and Porsche six-cylinder diesel vehicles. VW, which owns those two brands, says the EPA has it wrong -- this time. The allegations could cause the automaker further credibility problems and make the public more skeptical of diesel technology.

Crime and Punishment for a Sheriff's Deputy

A former L.A. County sheriff's sergeant will spend eight years in prison after the beating of a handcuffed man and a scheme to cover it up. "It was a blatant crime, no different than one committed by any street criminal," the judge said during the sentencing, "except that it was worse because it was committed by a law enforcement officer." More deputies face charges of physical abuse in two coming trials, after the FBI began investigating excessive-force claims in the county's jails.

CALIFORNIA

-- With L.A. having a healthy cash reserve, a group wants the city to reexamine how parking tickets are issued.

-- L.A. County officials have left unspent more than $20 million of their budget to give immigrants who are in this country illegally public healthcare.

-- A suspect dubbed the "Western Bandit" has been arrested, the LAPD said.

-- How much does severe obesity cost California? About $9.1 billion.

NATION-WORLD

-- Iraq's Ahmad Chalabi, who advocated for the 2003 U.S.-led invasion to overthrow Saddam Hussein, dies of a heart attack.

-- A forgotten war in Yemen takes its toll on civilians.

-- With Google and Twitter still blocked in China, Silicon Valley executives woo Beijing.

-- Can Texas districts require proof that home-schooled kids are learning?

-- A new art museum celebrates the distinct Pacific Northwest.

-- A super volcano? The Big One in Wyoming? A huge crack in the Earth has folks talking.

BUSINESS 

-- The Supreme Court may limit class-action lawsuits against the tech industry.

-- JPMorgan Chase will pay $100 million over bad debt-collection practices in California.

SPORTS

-- Here's what the Dodgers could learn from the San Francisco Giants' proposal to develop the area around AT&T Park. 

-- World Series champion Kansas City Royals show it's not all about the money.

ENTERTAINMENT

-- Aziz Ansari looks to avoid slapstick and stereotypes in Netflix's "Master of None."

-- "Star Trek" and streaming: How CBS is betting big on a sci-fi classic.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- Arsenic and old graves: Civil War-era cemeteries may be leaking toxins into drinking water. (Smithsonian Magazine¿)

-- The hidden reasons why people spend too much money. (Wall Street Journal)

-- Inside the white supremacists' Halloween bash. (The Daily Beast)

-- The Financial Times does lunch with suspended FIFA chief Sepp Blatter.

ONLY IN L.A.

It's been known as the "bank to the stars," and it once lent Frank Sinatra cash to pay a ransom when his son was kidnapped in 1963. Now, L.A.'s City National Bank has been acquired by the Royal Bank of Canada. Still, "it's business as usual," one executive says. Translation: Don't expect to see any Mounties guarding the vault.

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.