Newsletter: Today: Protest, Praise, and Plagiarism? Baton Rouge’s Fallen.
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
Protest, Praise, and Plagiarism?
It was raucous. It had moments of gravity. It had Donald Trump make a WWE-style entrance. What the first day of the Republican National Convention didn’t have was a lot of party unity, with key figures absent and a brief descent into chaos thanks to anti-Trump forces. By primetime, though, a grab bag of speakers was singing the Donald’s praises. That included his wife, Melania, who was promptly accused of lifting part of Michelle Obama’s speech. What can we expect on Day 2? Get the latest here.
The Cavalcade Outside
Protesters chanting “Hillary for Prison!” A man wearing a patch reading “Dysfunctional veteran — leave me alone.” An 82-year-old pro-Clinton Democrat wearing the “outfit of an African queen.” These are the people you meet outside the GOP convention. A dispatch from the so-far peaceful front lines.
More Politics
-- Analysis: Missed opportunities and contradictions for Trump.
-- Where California’s GOP delegation rates: a hotel at a water park 60 miles from the convention.
-- Clinton tries to draw attention with speeches to teachers and the NAACP.
-- Don’t miss a moment: Watch the livestream of the convention and get more insight in our Essential Politics newsletter.
Baton Rouge’s Fallen, and a Study in Anger
One officer’s shift was supposed to have ended a half-hour earlier. One was a 41-year-old rookie who had previously served in Iraq. One had posted on Facebook about the difficulties of being a black policeman: “Please don’t let hate infect your heart. The city must and will get better.” All three were fathers, killed in Baton Rouge when a man from Kansas City, Mo., shot them. How did he go from Iraq veteran to cop killer? His online postings provide a glimpse.
Back to the Drawing Board for Baca
A federal judge says six months in prison isn’t enough for former L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca. Now, Baca has to decide whether to accept whatever punishment the judge has in mind; withdraw his plea deal and face prosecution; or negotiate a new deal. Complicating matters: Baca is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, according to his attorney.
Big in Japan: L.A. Style, Circa 1976
The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar-led Lakers. An exotic place called UCLA. Gym shorts, “now worn on the streets.” All of these were new to the editors of a Japanese magazine about life in L.A. in 1976. Forty years later, a 200-page reprint is the talk of Tokyo. Read on to see why L.A. style seemed so different to Japanese readers back then.
It’s Time to Coast
Columnist Steve Lopez is marking the 40th anniversary of the California Coastal Act with a road trip, and he wants you to ride shotgun. He’s traveling from Oregon to Mexico along the state’s 1,100 miles of coastline, and he wants to hear about your connections to it and your concerns about its future. Follow his journey here and tweet him at @LATstevelopez.
CALIFORNIA
-- A study says some earthquakes on the San Andreas fault are triggered by the sun and moon’s gravitational pull.
-- A Long Beach educator will be the first Latino to lead the state’s community colleges.
-- Airbnb reaches a deal with the city of L.A. to collect millions in lodging taxes.
-- Police are looking for the victim in a body-shaming photo taken by a Playboy model at an L.A. gym.
NATION-WORLD
-- A judge acquitted the highest-ranking officer in the Freddie Gray case.
-- Turkey’s purge after the failed military coup includes 9,000 interior ministry officials.
-- A look inside the old slaughterhouse district that the Nice attacker called home.
-- A Vietnam War helicopter pilot who braved enemy fire to rescue soldiers is awarded the Medal of Honor.
-- KFC feels the heat in the U.S.-China game of chicken over the South China Sea.
HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS
-- Mark Volman of the Turtles discusses the use of “Happy Together” at the Republican National Convention.
-- Big Hollywood begins to place its chips on virtual reality, but is it a smart bet?
-- The age of anxiety: How 1950s music feels remarkably prophetic.
-- The Laguna Art Museum puts on a show of abstract paintings and sculptures by an artist who should be more well-known.
BUSINESS
-- CalPERS, the state’s largest public pension fund, posted its worst year since 2009.
-- Think twice before filling out that Congressional Monitor survey.
-- Michael Hiltzik: The FTC moves against Herbalife but leaves the question, “Why is this company still allowed in business?”
SPORTS
-- The IOC is on the verge of a historic vote to ban Russia from the Rio Olympics.
-- The road for female wrestlers is often filled with prejudice and misunderstanding.
-- “I became addicted to all of it”: Baseball great Darryl Strawberry on his glory years and getting sober.
OPINION
-- Cops killing civilians, civilians killing cops. How do we fix this?
-- Breast milk is best and free, so why is it a luxury for American moms?
WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING
-- A graphic shows how the Republican and Democratic platforms have differed since 1856. (Washington Post)
-- Trump’s ghostwriter on “The Art of the Deal” says he feels “a deep sense of remorse.” (The New Yorker)
-- First person: Raising my fist at the Mexico City Olympics cost me dearly, but I’d do it again. (Vox)
ONLY IN L.A.
Baseball is a numbers game. Dodgers clubhouse manager Mitch Poole is a numbers guy: For 11 years, he has controlled which ones the players wear on their backs. Poole gave Corey Seager No. 5 because “he’s the future of our ball club.” He gave Yasiel Puig No. 66 because “he’s a great guy, I really like him, but he was tough on coaches … he’s a devil, you know?” Keep reading to see why no one has worn No. 34 for a long time.
Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.
