Newsletter: Today: Case Closed for the Clinton Emails? A ‘Successful’ Military Test That Wasn’t.

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

The Clinton Emails: Case Closed?

“Extremely careless.” That is how the FBI’s director described Hillary Clinton and her aides’ handling of highly classified information after a nearly yearlong investigation into her use of email as secretary of State. Even though he concluded Clinton should not face criminal charges, how much damage will it do to her presidential hopes? As Mark Z. Barabak writes, it’s likely to plague her for weeks and months to come.

More From the Campaign Trail

-- Donald Trump blames a “rigged system” for the FBI’s recommendation not to charge Clinton.

-- President Obama makes a forceful case for Clinton, showing why he’s an asset to her campaign.

A ‘Successful’ Military Test That Wasn’t

If the U.S. were to come under nuclear attack from a rogue nation like North Korea, its missile defense would depend on a rocket part called a divert thruster. But what if that small motor doesn’t work properly? A Pentagon agency and Raytheon Co. hailed a Jan. 28 test over the Pacific as “successful,” but Pentagon scientists have told The Times it was not. “Did the thruster perform as expected? No,” said one. Read The Times’ investigation about a system that has cost at least $40 billion since 2004 but still raises doubts.

One Bullet Versus a Two-Ton Car

Police leaders in L.A. and New York forbid it. The U.S. Department of Justice has advised not to do it. Many in law enforcement consider shooting at moving cars a dangerous tactic, one that is unlikely to stop the vehicle and could endanger others by disabling the driver. That’s one reason why some are questioning the decision of California Highway Patrol officers to open fire on a truck headed toward them, even though the CHP’s policy allows them to use deadly force in such situations.

Consider Their Enthusiasm Curbed

To earthquake scientists, it was a Holy Grail: a curb in the Bay Area city of Hayward that had pulled apart in a perfect demonstration of the seismic forces along a fault that is a “tectonic time bomb.” One website has photographs of the curb going back to the 1970s. So consider the dismay when last month, a city crew set about fixing the curb – with no idea of its history as a “classic geopilgrimage site.”

This curb was once flush but became offset because the Hayward fault is pulling the curb apart.

(Rong-Gong Lin II / Los Angeles Times )

Who Wants to Be a Multimillionaire?

Remember the Jan. 12 Powerball drawing? Its jackpot was the biggest in U.S. lottery history at $1.6 billion. Three winning tickets were purchased, but after six months, only two buyers have claimed their prize. So who purchased that ticket at a 7-Eleven in Chino Hills, and why are they waiting so long? Some officials wonder if the person is even aware.

CALIFORNIA

-- With the state’s vaccination law in effect, opponents are trying to get it overturned in court.

-- L.A. County voters will decide on a parks tax and, possibly, a homeless tax in November.

-- News of a comedian’s arrest in Orange County is being closely watched in Vietnam.

-- A Santa Ana postal worker has been accused of stealing 6,200 credit cards through the mail.

NATION-WORLD

-- Oil reserves in the U.S. are now larger than those of Saudi Arabia or Russia.

-- What does it mean that terrorists will bomb even Muhammad’s burial place?

-- This week’s Baghdad bombing is one of the deadliest Islamic State has carried out so far.

-- Police and firefighters greet visitors to Rio de Janeiro with signs saying “Welcome to hell.”

-- Next up for the Juno spacecraft: Boot up its scientific instruments and start studying Jupiter.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS

-- The documentary “Under the Sun” catches North Korea with its guard down.

-- A nerdcore rapper brings depression into the light through song.

-- Strange bedfellows: Meet the Icelandic comedian who became a politician and now stars in a TV political satire.

-- Oscar-winning filmmaker Jessica Yu’s population documentary asks how many people are really too many for Planet Earth.

-- The beautiful story of how Stephen Colbert met his wife.

BUSINESS

-- Ho Ho, what do we have here? A Beverly Hills billionaire will take over Hostess Brands, the maker of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and other baked goods.

-- Experts say Tesla’s autopilot software could be more vulnerable to lawsuits because of competitors’ go-slow strategies .

SPORTS

-- What’s the word on Lakers top pick Brandon Ingram? “Coachable.”

-- Could it be an all-Williams final (Serena and Venus) at Wimbledon?

OPINION

-- James Comey outlines a persuasive case against indicting Clinton, but the decision isn’t his to make.

-- A scientist says we should leave California’s “new water” in the ground.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- When Uganda’s president kept referring to Israel as Palestine in front of Benjamin Netanyahu. (Foreign Policy)

-- The story of Hot Tamale Louie: Afghan immigrant, fast-food proprietor and patriarch of Wyoming’s Muslim population. (The New Yorker)

-- Can’t call 911? Some cities are trying out accepting 911 text messages. (Associated Press)

ONLY IN L.A.

At Dodger Stadium on July 4, it was going, going … gone. Chinook, the bald eagle, that is. During a pregame event to mark the nation’s birthday, the L.A. Zoo brought out two bald eagles. As Ray Charles’ version of “America the Beautiful” played, Chinook soared and then, rather than return to his handler, flew right out the stadium gate. Watch the video here.

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.