Newsletter: Today: Trump Takes the O.C. Anatomy of a Marriage.
I’m Davan Maharaj, editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I don’t want you to miss today.
TOP STORIES
Donald Trump with supporters at the rally.
Trump Takes the O.C.
In the symbolic bastion of California conservatism — and on the same fairgrounds where Arnold Schwarzenegger once dropped a wrecking ball on an auto to protest the car tax — Donald Trump held one of his trademark raucous rallies in Costa Mesa. Outside, protests turned violent; inside, Trump delivered his “America first” pitch and gave a shout-out to “Latinos for Trump, I love that!” It was the opening salvo in the battle for the Golden State, which will be instrumental in whether Trump can clinch the nomination ahead of the GOP convention. Complete coverage is here.
More on the GOP Race
-- Trump leads in the polls in California, but Ted Cruz has a network that could pay off in delegates.
-- John Boehner says Cruz is “Lucifer in the flesh” and that he’d support Trump if he’s the GOP nominee.
-- Our live blog of the California Republican convention, which runs today through Sunday.
Anatomy of a Marriage
The investigation into the San Bernardino terrorist attack has taken another turn, this time with the arrest of three people charged with conspiring to create a sham marriage along with Enrique Marquez Jr., who was already accused of providing weapons to the terrorists. Now his wife, Mariya Chernykh; her sister, Tatiana Farook; and the older brother of one of the shooters, Syed Raheel Farook, are in legal trouble, though prosecutors have not alleged that the trio had any previous knowledge of the attack. Read more about what they’re facing, along with the federal complaint against them.
A Cut Above, Now Under Fire, at UC Davis
Linda Katehi is a renowned scholar with wide administrative experience. As chancellor of UC Davis, she oversaw the raising of $1 billion and hired top talent. But this week, she was placed on leave amid questions over her involvement in jobs for family members, possible misuse of student funds and “material misstatements” about her role in trying to scrub the Internet of bad publicity. Read on to see how faculty and students are debating her fate.
Hear Her Roar
Beyoncé. Kelly Ripa. Samantha Bee. As Times senior culture editor Mary McNamara writes, “These women are angry, and they are no longer afraid to show it.” Read on to see how they join a growing group rejecting the idea that women must swallow or hide their anger to avoid being characterized as hysterical or crazy.
Take Me to Your Supreme Leader
When you look like North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, you could be depressed — or you could roll with it. Kim Minyong decided to do the latter. The 25-year-old South Korean bought a black suit, poses for pictures and is using the resemblance to promote his English academy. “I make people smile,” he says. As opposed to turning Seoul into “a sea of fire.”
CALIFORNIA
-- Lt. Gov. Newsom says he has enough signatures for a gun safety initiative to qualify on the ballot.
-- Offensive emails from a top official are putting L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell on the spot.
-- Two brothers have been arrested after their parents’ bodies were found next to a note: “Sorry, my first kill was clumsy.”
-- Removing a whale carcass from the beach at Trestles isn’t for the faint of heart.
NATION-WORLD
-- After a nine-month vacancy, the Senate confirms a new U.S. ambassador to Mexico.
-- The Pentagon has disciplined 16 service members for a deadly attack on a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Afghanistan, but none will face criminal charges.
-- Why the world’s biggest exporter of crude is trying to wean itself off oil.
-- After years of anger, guilt, shame and fear, a victim finally confronts Dennis Hastert.
HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS
-- The inside story of how the Comcast-DreamWorks deal came together so fast.
-- A $400-million payday awaits DreamWorks Animation founder Jeffrey Katzenberg.
-- Concerns over piracy prompt 20th Century Fox to skip San Diego Comic-Con this year.
-- Movie review: “Keanu” will be catnip for “Key & Peele” fans, but for the rest of the world ... meh.
-- Investigators are looking at a possible overdose in Prince’s death.
-- Conservatives are less than thrilled by reports of Will Ferrell playing Ronald Reagan with dementia on film.
BUSINESS
-- A lawsuit accuses Jessica Alba’s Honest Co. of falsely labeling infant formula.
-- David Lazarus: Phone companies’ unlisted-numbers fees are unjustifiable.
-- Why Carl Icahn dumped all of his Apple stock.
SPORTS
-- The Rams got their man with the first pick in the NFL draft: quarterback Jared Goff.
-- What will $500 million get you in Vegas? Raiders owner Mark Davis hopes it’s a home for his team.
OPINION
-- “I was verbally assaulted with an anti-gay slur. At first I was angry, then I felt relief.”
-- Why is the White House having such difficulty gathering data on police violence?
-- David Horsey: The Cruz-Fiorina pairing is a stunt worthy of “House of Cards.”
WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING
-- A Middle East correspondent reflects on being back in the U.S. (Lenny)
-- What are the legal ramifications when a robot kills? Murder or product liability? (Slate)
-- A look at what’s billed as the world’s largest collection of Chinese restaurant menus. (Minnesota Public Radio)
ONLY IN L.A.
Pershing Square has been called an “urban planning nightmare” and much worse. Now, four proposals are under consideration to remake the 5-acre square, which has existed as a public park in a variety of forms since 1866. Take a look at some images of the four finalists here.
Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.
