Newsletter: Essential California: Why the rains never came in autumn

Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It’s Thursday, Dec. 21, and here’s what’s happening across California:

TOP STORIES

For weather experts, autumn in Southern California can become “the great race.” The severity of the fall fire season is often determined by what arrives first — the fierce Santa Ana winds or the rains. This year, however, it’s been no contest. Autumn has seen excruciatingly little rain, intensely low humidity, record heat and powerful winds that sparked what is so far the second-largest wildfire in modern California history. “We haven’t seen any rain, and we’ve seen these long, blasting Santa Ana events,” said Bill Patzert, climatologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge. Los Angeles Times

Plus: A group of Ventura County residents has filed suit against two utility companies and the city of Ventura, claiming that they are responsible for damage caused by the Thomas fire. Los Angeles Times

And: State Sen. Ricardo Lara has introduced legislation to protect residents from canceled insurance policies. Los Angeles Times

Tax cuts are passed

The Republican tax bill heading for President Trump’s desk reduces the ability of home buyers to deduct mortgage interest, which will be a hit to home shoppers in Southern California and the Bay Area, where housing costs are sky-high. But the interest provision is far more limited in scope than a previous proposal. Real estate experts and professionals said Tuesday they don’t expect a big effect on home buying in the region, and that any ramifications will be largely restricted to well-to-do neighborhoods. Los Angeles Times

Plus: Here are five tax-related moves to consider before year’s end. Los Angeles Times

L.A. STORIES

New lawsuit: Gold-medal-winning gymnast McKayla Maroney filed suit Wednesday against the United States Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics, alleging that officials had her sign a confidential financial settlement to keep secret the sexual abuse she suffered as a teen by disgraced team doctor Larry Nassar. The USOC denied involvement in the payout, while USA Gymnastics said the confidential provision in its settlement with Maroney was initiated by her attorney at the time, high-profile litigator Gloria Allred. Los Angeles Times

The Formosa: Writer David Ulin explains his affinity for the famous bar, which opened in 1925 across the street from the old Pickford-Fairbanks Studios in what is now West Hollywood. Los Angeles Times

Speaking out: In her first TV interview, Harvey Weinstein’s former assistant discusses his “overarching need for power.” Washington Post

Chat: Times reporter Maya Lau will do a Facebook Live chat this afternoon on coverage of Jim McDonnell and a confidential roster of problem Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies. Catch up on the latest story here. Los Angeles Times

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Midterm season: With the tax bill on its way to Trump and Republicans nationwide claiming victory as they decamp to their districts for the holidays, Democrats are hoping California Republicans will have to answer in next year’s midterms for their support of the effort to abolish the Affordable Care Act, backed by all 14 California Republicans in May, and now, the sweeping tax overhaul that passed Tuesday with support from 12 of them. Los Angeles Times

Not so fast: A promised year-end deal to protect the young immigrants known as ‘Dreamers’ from deportation collapsed Wednesday as Republicans in Congress prepared to punt nearly all remaining must-do agenda items into the new year. Los Angeles Times

But coming soon? “Top senators and White House officials are laying the groundwork for a major immigration deal in January to resolve the fate of young undocumented immigrants whose legal protections were put in limbo by President Donald Trump.” Politico

Add KDL: Taking fierce shots at U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, whom he is challenging for her seat, California Senate leader Kevin de León on Wednesday urged Democrats to block a year-end spending bill as leverage to pass a Dream Act “clean” of GOP demands for increased border security. Los Angeles Times

CRIME AND COURTS

South L.A. injunction: For nearly a decade, a South Los Angeles duplex has been a hub for gang violence and troublesome parties filled with drugs, city officials say. In the last four months alone, police have responded there multiple times after reports of gunfire. To get a handle on the violence, Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer filed a lawsuit against the mother-and-son duo who own and live in the duplex in the 1300 block of East 43rd Street. Los Angeles Times

Bad stuff: A Rialto man is facing murder charges for a July crash that killed three people in Irvine and left a fourth person with traumatic brain injuries. Los Angeles Times

Quite the joyride: A man who stole an unoccupied Holiday Inn Express van late Tuesday was arrested after crashing into cars in Westchester and briefly halting traffic on the 405 Freeway when he ran across lanes, authorities said. Los Angeles Times

THE ENVIRONMENT

A goose on the loose: Rescuers tried once again Wednesday to capture a Canada goose that was impaled by an arrow roughly three weeks ago. The animal control officers failed to nab the bird, but they did watch in amazement as the animal appeared to jettison the arrow and fly out of reach. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Losing the past: Our film and video history is threatened by the rise of streaming video, writes columnist Michael Hiltzik. Los Angeles Times

Why she departed: Catt Sadler has left E! after failing to agree on a contract with the entertainment network. She blamed her departure on a “massive pay disparity” between her and male “E! News” anchor Jason Kennedy. Los Angeles Times

Very cool! “Many LA-area high schools have extensive filmographies, but John Marshall is distinguished by the sheer number of iconic movies and TV shows that have used the campus as a backdrop.” Curbed LA

That’s a long time:This Southern California family has kept its Christmas tree alive for 34 years running. Orange County Register

Wow: “Hawthorne police have recovered a hard drive containing more than $1 million worth of original music that was stolen recently from a car belonging to Derek ‘MixedByAli’ Ali, rapper Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy Award winning producer.” The Daily Breeze

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Los Angeles area: sunny, 64, Thursday; partly cloudy, 66, Friday. San Diego: sunny, 65, Thursday; partly cloudy, 66, Friday. San Francisco area: sunny, 57, Thursday; partly cloudy, 56, Friday. Sacramento: sunny, 57, Thursday; partly cloudy, 55, Friday. More weather is here.

AND FINALLY

Today’s California memory comes from Sharon Myers:

“Victorville, 1963. Hesperia had a few houses, but the rest was still pristine desert. We’d play and make forts in the desert across from our housing development. Dad tried to import a Joshua tree to our yard, one that his developer friend was removing. The heat could always be relieved by ice-cube-tray popsicles and playing in the sprinklers, or the ice cream truck. The local plunge and the Country Club both had pools, but we loved the Country Club’s best, because it had teenagers practicing surfer music and frozen candy bars on a stick. Chuck Yeager was a neighbor. The Mojave River was a few inches deep, and we loved wading in it. There was a fabulous Transportation Park in Oro Grande with a real locomotive, tank and fighter jet that you could explore, and a mini freeway for trikes. On a darker note, the neighbors built a bomb shelter; my little sister would run for cover every time an F-15 from neighboring George Air Force Base broke the sound barrier; my dad, a CHP, had a can of rations in the garage and was expected to help guide the exodus from L.A. in case of an 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 Benjamin Oreskes and Shelby Grad. Also follow them on Twitter @boreskes and @shelbygrad.