Newsletter: Today: In Orlando, Grim Reality. Do Those ‘Phony’ Polls Say Something?

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

In Orlando, Grim Reality Settles In

As the Orlando shooting investigation turned to what the attacker’s wife knew, the families of the victims dealt with grief and loss. At a seniors’ center not far from the Pulse club, they were receiving formal notice that their loved ones were among the dead. “I find out how much you aren’t prepared for something like this,” said one clergy member brought in to help. Meanwhile, San Diego police are investigating a Craigslist post that warned, “San Diego you are next.”

Do Those ‘Phony’ Polls Say Something?

A Washington Post/ABC News poll taken mostly before the Orlando attack found 70% of Americans see Donald Trump negatively and 55% have a negative view of Hillary Clinton. Half of Americans polled by CBS News disapproved of his response to Orlando. And Clinton now leads Trump nationally by five or six percentage points. What to make of what Trump calls those “phony” polls? Washington bureau chief David Lauter breaks it down.

More Politics

-- Senate Democrats conduct a nearly 15-hour filibuster in an attempt to tighten gun laws.

-- What it could look like if Trump’s broader immigration ban were implemented.

-- There soon could be a new “unknown” voter category in California.

A Tragedy Amid the Homeless Crisis

The warning signs at an empty building in the Westlake area of Los Angeles were there: Loud music, parties and fights. Trash fires in an alley. A vandalized gate, installed over a damaged portion just last week. On Monday, a fire broke out, killing five people authorities believe were living inside the building. Now, a 21-year-old homeless man stands accused of intentionally igniting it. And with L.A. struggling to find housing for a huge homeless population, the risk of this kind of tragedy happening again is high.

Cap and Trade: More Like Cap and Crunch?

The aim of California’s cap and trade program is to reduce pollution. It caps how much greenhouse gas can be produced and requires companies to get permits that can then be traded. Over the years, though, it’s become a key source of revenue for state projects, including the bullet train. Now, the program is facing crunch time with a series of legal, financial and political challenges ahead.

Coffee, Cancer and Grains of Salt

The good news: After years of being deemed possibly carcinogenic by the World Health Organization, coffee is off the hook. An expert panel said it may even reduce the risk of some cancers. The bad news: Drinking any beverages hotter than 149 degrees Fahrenheit may cause cancer. Here’s why you should take it all with a grain of salt.

China’s Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves

They’ve donned faux blood-spattered wedding dresses to protest domestic violence; shaved their heads to decry education inequality; and made viral photos to object to the lenient sentence given to Brock Turner thousands of miles away. Feminist activists in China have struck a chord. As with so many the government finds threatening, they’ve also faced a crackdown. Read on to see what happened when one woman filed a gender discrimination lawsuit in Guangzhou.

CALIFORNIA

-- The Legislature has approved a $171-billion state budget, with $2 billion set aside for a rainy-day fund.

-- Oakland is replacing its interim police chief only days after his appointment.

-- There is a $50,000 reward to find the Original Night Stalker, 40 years after the crimes began.

-- A scorching heat wave is headed for Southern California this weekend.

NATION-WORLD

-- The body of 2-year-old boy was found after an alligator attack at Disney World.

-- As Illinois’ credit rating nears junk status, the governor praises his “heroic” administration.

-- The U.S. transfers imprisoned drug lord Hector ‘El Guero’ Palma to Mexican custody.

-- After its own mass shootings, Germany beefed up its gun control laws. The number of shootings dropped.

-- Looting and unrest continue roiling Venezuela, as shortages persist and protesters demand food.

-- Einstein’s theory is confirmed again: Scientists have detected gravitational waves for a second time.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS

-- In Hollywood, diversity tends to ignore the disabled.

-- HBO’s “Confirmation” tackles the issues of power, access and who has it, says Kerry Washington.

-- Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page disputes allegations that a famous “Stairway to Heaven” riff was a rip-off.

-- The era of the Wii U console is ending with the game “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.”

-- Here is the real story of heartbreak that led to Beyoncé’s ballad “Sandcastles.”

BUSINESS

-- Office dress codes keep getting more casual, and a lot has to do with the competitive job market.

-- A Captain Jack stunt show, the Tron roller coaster and more: a first look inside the just-opened Disney Shanghai resort.

SPORTS

-- The Rio Games have problems, but so have other Olympics.

-- Bill Shaikin: Ichiro Suzuki is a hit no matter what Pete Rose says.

OPINION

-- Good riddance to a repugnant California cap on family aid.

-- Are Democrats finally ready for a real debate on U.S.-Israel policy?

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- Nuclear weapons in Asia are on the rise, according to a report. (Popular Mechanics)

-- Inside a circus school near Turkey’s border with Syria. (Roads and Kingdoms)

-- The Playlist offers a list of the 50 best foreign-language films of this century, and film critic Richard Brody responds with his own in the New Yorker.

ONLY IN CALIFORNIA

Huntington Beach has had a dramatic increase in shark sightings of late. But on a recent Saturday, Surf City had a far less threatening presence in the water: merfolk. Donning silicone and latex tails, the four women and one man introduced a crowd to the phenomenon of “mermaiding.” “I didn’t even know until about a year ago that other mermaids were out there,” said one. “They’re my mersisters.”

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.