Newsletter: Today: It’s About the Econ... Wait, Emails. The Return of Smog City.

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

It’s About the Econ… Wait, Emails

Just as Donald Trump did earlier in the week, Hillary Clinton made a stop in the Detroit area to lay out her plans for the economy, only to find the message undermined by controversy. A fresh batch of emails, released as part of a lawsuit filed by the conservative advocacy group Judicial Watch, raised questions about the dealings of Clinton’s team at the State Department. Given other lawsuits, investigations and concerns about Russian hackers, there will likely be more emails to scrutinize.

More Politics

-- When it comes to politics in 2016, churchgoers are hearing it from the pulpit.

-- Here’s how to tell whether Trump is doing his own tweeting.

The Return of Smog City

The hot, stagnant weather we’ve been having in Southern California isn’t just uncomfortable. It’s contributed to the worst smog the region has had in years. Though not as bad as it was in the 1970s and ’80s, ozone pollution has exceeded federal standards on 91 days so far this year. Hardest hit: the Inland Empire, where hospitals and asthma clinics say the air appears to be driving more people to seek treatment.

Islamic State’s Shapeshifting Fight in Libya

Islamic State’s last bastion in Libya has been the coastal city of Surt, close to where dictator Moammar Kadafi was born and killed. This week, U.S.-backed Libyan forces said they had taken over the group’s headquarters, and the city’s mayor told the Associated Press it was “70% free — it will soon be completely free.” Recapturing Surt has been a grim and costly task, but what lies ahead appears daunting too: Analysts say ISIS will probably turn to a guerrilla-style insurgency, and infighting among the Libyan militias could easily return.

The DEA Loosens Up on Pot, Just a Little

The Drug Enforcement Agency puts cannabis in its most dangerous category of drugs, more dangerous than cocaine. That could eventually change, but for now the federal agency is ending a monopoly on marijuana production for medical research purposes. Instead of allowing researchers and drug companies to obtain pot only from a well-secured facility at the University of Mississippi, it will invite a limited number of growers to apply for licenses to become suppliers. Here’s why the DEA altered its stance.

Brazil’s New Heroes: Rafaela and Marta

Rafaela Silva won the first Brazilian gold medal at the Rio Olympics in judo. Marta Vieira da Silva has led the country’s soccer team to the quarterfinals. To fans in Brazil, they’re known simply as Rafaela and Marta. That these two stars are women, black and from humble backgrounds is all the more significant in a country that grapples with racism, classism and sexism.

More Olympics

-- U.S. gymnasts Simone Biles won gold and Aly Raisman took silver in the women’s all-around event.

-- Swimmer Michael Phelps won his 22nd career gold medal.

-- Media around the world are condemned for sexist coverage.

-- Can you take an unplayable lie if your golfball lands next to a furry rodent the size of a pig?

CALIFORNIA

-- Lawmakers have weakened a bill to ban behind-the-scenes communications at the Coastal Commission.

-- Probation statistics show an increase in the use of force at L.A. County juvenile halls.

-- Officials say gun tests and video may provide answers in the police shooting of a 14-year-old boy.

-- Robin Abcarian takes a tour of the state’s water supply that lays bare the tension between farmers and fish.

NATION-WORLD

-- Canadian police killed a man suspected of planning a suicide bombing.

-- Another theme-park accident: A 3-year-old boy fell from a Pennsylvania roller coaster.

-- As Venezuela’s farms and factories falter, the country struggles to feed its people.

-- The 25-year-old Duke of Westminster will inherit a $12-billion fortune.

-- A 400-year-old shark? The Greenland shark could be Earth’s longest-lived vertebrate.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS

-- Making a new version of the film “Ben-Hur” presents an epic-sized challenge.

-- Natalie Portman on how “A Tale of Love and Darkness” is set in a time she’s thought about her whole life.

-- Movie review: “Pete’s Dragon” is old-school Disney in the best way possible.

-- Cinema gold? A go-to sports-movie producer decodes the art of the Olympics film.

-- President Obama made a summer travel mixtape that includes Prince and Fiona Apple.

BUSINESS

-- Arianna Huffington is leaving the Huffington Post, moving on to head a new wellness start-up.

-- Not an official sponsor? Then don’t say “Olympics” or “Rio,” even on Twitter.

-- David Lazarus: An organization called the League boasts the secrets to wealth and power, but they’ll cost you.

-- Macy’s plans to shut 100 stores. After the announcement, its stock soared 17%.

SPORTS

-- The Angels have renewed stadium talks with Anaheim after striking out in Tustin.

-- The Dallas Cowboys’ Jerry Jones explains why he played lead blocker for the Rams’ L.A. comeback.

OPINION

-- Three L.A. County sheriff’s deputy shootings underscore the need for a oversight commission.

-- Democracy in China? It’s in the eye of the beholder.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- Islamic State isn’t disappearing, but some on the ground in Iraq and Syria say there are signs it is weakening. (Der Spiegel)

-- Women weren’t allowed in the ancient Greek Olympics, so they had their own Heraean Games. (Atlas Obscura)

-- Will the singular use of “they” gain grammarians’ acceptance? (Tedium)

ONLY IN L.A.

TMZ and Starline Tours joined forces six years ago to operate a celebrity tour through Los Angeles, but like so many relationships in Hollywood, things have gone sour. The latest turn involved the celebrity news operation calling in L.A. sheriff’s deputies to raid Starline’s Hollywood Boulevard offices to collect on a court judgment won by TMZ. Here’s why Starline says the dramatic move wasn’t necessary.

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.