Newsletter: Today: Campaign Money Mystery. Hollywood’s Hiring Problem.

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

Now We Know Who Funded That Campaign

Who contributed nearly $2.3 million in the May election for the L.A. Board of Education? Some prominent charter school supporters did, but it wasn't until September that a filing revealed their names. Here's how it happened — and why it appears to have been within the law.

In 2015, Hollywood Meets in Secret on Hiring Women

For two days, studio executives and agents set aside their rivalries and met in secret. Their objective: to address the longstanding lack of women in front of and behind the camera. The backdrop: some prominent calls for equal pay, and a federal inquiry into possible gender discrimination. Here's the Hollywood players' plan.

Gov. Moonbeam No More

Four decades ago, Gov. Jerry Brown's focus on the environment was something of a curiosity. This week, he has plenty of company as he hits the climate change conference near Paris. So why does a man who is planning on building a green-friendly home rely on a gas-guzzling Crown Victoria to get around? Read on.

Mark Zuckerberg: He's a Giver

Up next for disruption: charitable giving. It used to be that captains of industry got rich, then got old and gave it away. New parents Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, said they would donate 99% of their Facebook shares — now worth $45 billion — during their lifetimes. They had previously committed $1.6 billion to charitable causes. Will other young billionaires follow suit?

Why China Might Need to Loosen Up

Now that China's currency is among the International Monetary Fund's elite, the Communist government could be pressured to give up its extraordinary control over financial transactions. The restrictions are so tight, some wealthy Chinese people resort to workarounds to move their money overseas. Find out what "ants moving house" means.

CALIFORNIA

-- "I'm shaking, I'm sick, I'm an emotional mess": Texts from a clerk could mark the end of a judge's career.

-- California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris sues to shut down two car donation charities.

-- The leader of the Legislature's moderate Democrats will resign to seek a government relations job.

-- California water conservation lagged in October, but the state is still on course.

NATION-WORLD

-- Video: The misuse of "Allahu akbar" and how the phrase has been co-opted by terrorists.

-- What is carbon pricing and why is it so important in battling climate change?

-- India seeks to balance development with a need for clean energy.

-- A mystery off Japan's coast: boats carrying decomposing bodies.

-- If you're having trouble quitting smoking, maybe you can blame your DNA.

BUSINESS

-- L.A. motorists are paying 75 cents more than the U.S. average for a gallon of gas.

-- Sales of cars in the U.S. are booming, but VW's numbers plunge.

SPORTS

-- Philadelphia native Kobe Bryant gets cheers instead of boos; the Lakers lose again.

-- Magic Johnson says Lakers' Jim Buss needs help to be a great owner.

-- Bill Plaschke: New manager Dave Roberts will bring hope to Dodgers fans.

ENTERTAINMENT

-- Is it Wookie or Wookiee? The Times' definitive "Star Wars" style guide.

-- Teyonah Parris hopes to inspire change with her role in Spike Lee's film "Chi-Raq."

-- "Mad Max: Fury Road" roars to a best picture win from the National Board of Review.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- A tale of refugees and the U.S. immigration court. (New Yorker)

-- The new Pirelli calendar featuring Amy Schumer, Fran Lebowitz and more could reflect a shifting culture. (New York Times)

-- Meet 25 of the 50 "most exciting artists in Europe today." (Artnet)

ONLY IN L.A.

Where can you find postmodern vaudevillians, stand-up comedians, aerialists, sword swallowers and contortionists in the same place? You could start at an Echo Park warehouse. It’s the home of a variety show where entertainers of all stripes each get four minutes to give their best shot in front of a crowd that might include "mediocre famous people." Watch some of the craziness here.

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.