Newsletter: Today: France Strikes Back. What Is Next?

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

France: Vengeance, a Manhunt and Mourning

"An act of war." Masterminded in Syria. "Some persons located in Belgium," commissioned to carry it out. France started publicly piecing together the story behind the devastating attacks on Paris. The immediate result: A dozen warplanes pounded the headquarters of Islamic State, and the hunt was on for an eighth suspect who was born in Brussels. Meanwhile, a city on edge grieved. Here's the latest and our full coverage.

How Will the U.S. Respond?

President Obama has tried to build a legacy on ending America's wars, but the deadly Paris attacks are adding new pressure on him to confront Islamic State militants more aggressively. World leaders are looking to the U.S. for leadership. Obama still doesn't think more U.S. troops are the answer to the problem, an official said. What are the options?

At Cal State Long Beach, Requiem for 'a Beautiful Soul'

Nohemi Gonzalez was a bright industrial design student at Cal State Long Beach, spending a semester in Paris before graduation this spring. A spray of gunfire at a bistro left her and 18 others dead -- among the scores who were killed. On Sunday, hundreds gathered to remember her spirit. 

More About the Paris Attacks

-- Dispatch from Molenbeek, Belgium, the so-called jihadi capital of Europe. 

-- The attacks spotlight Europe's vulnerability to terrorism.

-- "Please, please! Stop!" concertgoers pleaded as a Paris theater came under siege.

-- "We didn't choose for this to happen": French Muslims fear reprisals. 

-- Opinion: Why Islamic State targeted France instead of the U.S. 

Bedtime Stories of Love and Deportation

When a family is separated by deportation, how do you explain to the kids that the law is forcing Mom or Dad to live in another country? In today's Great Read, see how parents living in Tijuana are writing a collection of bedtime stories to help children cope with an adult situation -- and watch a video of one narrative called "The Little Elf." 

Will Ted Cruz Be the Last Candidate Standing?

In another election cycle, Sen. Ted Cruz's attempt to win the Republican presidential nomination might be a long shot. His my-way-or-the-highway approach hasn't won him many friends in political circles. In his corner: grass-roots support and lots of cash. Read on to see how Donald Trump, Ben Carson and the Obama campaign playbook have all helped Cruz's rise. 

OUR MUST-READS FROM THE WEEKEND

-- Prepare now: El Niño "is here, and it is huge."

-- A new immigrant surge? More Central Americans are fleeing violence to enter the U.S.

-- Claremont McKenna College students embrace a lesson in activism.

-- Sandy Banks: Petty slights and snubs that can leave deep wounds.

-- Steve Lopez: What's wrong with L.A. Unified's leadership? Just about everything. 

-- Mary McNamara: Democrats continue to agree more than debate.

-- The brave and complex new world of digital music.

-- Get a head start on Thanksgiving. 

CALIFORNIA

-- A police beating after a high-speed chase in San Francisco is under investigation.

-- Fresh off its Bay Area victory, what's next for Airbnb in L.A.?

-- Researchers determine the origin of mysterious stone columns along Crowley Lake.

-- George Skelton talks with a pragmatic Republican who's playing up his outsider status.

NATION-WORLD

-- Two mass graves were found around the Iraqi town of Sinjar, according to officials and witnesses.

-- Fifteen African migrants were shot to death in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula while trying to reach Israel, a hospital official said.

-- Russia's grand plan to modernize its navy is tripped up by financial trouble. 

-- "Disneyland for weapons of mass destruction"? The plan to build the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

-- In Washington and Oregon, offensive names of places are quietly taken off the maps. 

BUSINESS 

-- Why companies are on a historic pace for mergers and acquisitions this year. 

-- The fixer: A film novice is leading Universal Pictures into the Digital Age.

SPORTS

-- How the UFC's Holly Holm staged a stunning upset to beat Ronda Rousey.

-- Money is still an object for the Dodgers, who are trying to cut their payroll from $300 million.

ENTERTAINMENT

-- Entertainment's role after, and before, the Paris attacks.

-- How CBS engineered a last-minute shuffle at Saturday's Democratic debate.

-- Inside Oscar's honorary awards ceremony celebrating Spike Lee, Gena Rowlands and Debbie Reynolds.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- Analyst Graham E. Fuller: Why international action must be taken to eliminate Islamic State. (grahamefuller.com)

-- "The Attacks Will Be Spectacular": How the Bush administration ignored this CIA warning before 9/11. (Politico)

-- Infographic: What a year of Islamic State terrorism looks like. (Washington Post)

-- We're hard-wired to focus on bad news, but these scientists show why more people are healthier and happier than ever before. (The Guardian)

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