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Essential California
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Good morning, and welcome to the [Essential California newsletter](. Itâs Thursday, Feb. 21, and hereâs whatâs happening across California:
TOP STORIES
Memories fuel the conversation when Mansour Sepehrnia, 89, and other old friends gather each week at Attari Sandwich Shop in âTehrangeles,â the Persian community in Westwood that blossomed after the Islamic Revolution of 1979 prompted thousands of Iranians to flee to the United States. Itâs not unusual to find old men gathered like this in other restaurants and tea shops in Tehrangeles. But youâre more likely to see them play backgammon or grumble about the state of Iran today. At the Attari, the topic is Hollywood — at least the Iranian version of it — and the memories come from a regular group of former actors, comedians, film editors and theater owners who were part of Iranâs once-robust entertainment industry. They had to give up show business when they came to L.A. For 26 years, this little group has gathered at the restaurant every Tuesday at 11 a.m. [Los Angeles Times](
The legal fight on a variety of fronts
When a lawsuit challenging President Trumpâs plan to build a border wall goes before a federal judge in San Francisco, California and 15 other states will argue that the administrationâs decision to bypass Congress violates the U.S. Constitution. But legal analysts generally agreed Tuesday that the lawsuit is most likely to prevail on more narrow grounds — if it succeeds at all. âThis is so clearly unconstitutional and illegal that the Supreme Court will say it is not permissible,â predicted UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky. [Los Angeles Times](
Plus: Can Trump take back California's high-speed rail money? A look at the political and legal battle ahead. [Los Angeles Times](
Cold case files
It was a killing that haunted Newport Beach for years. In July 1973, 11-year-old Linda Ann OâKeefe disappeared while walking home from school. The following day, her body was found among the cattails in Newport Beachâs scenic Back Bay. The case remained cold until last year, when the Police Department tried a new tactic using social media. In a series of first-person tweets, detectives highlighted details of Lindaâs killing in hopes it would yield new clues. They called it Lindaâs Story. On Wednesday, a new chapter was added: The arrest of a Colorado man suspected in the girlâs slaying and identified through the use of genealogical DNA. Detectives said the break occurred after a snapshot profile of a possible suspect in the killing was generated from DNA evidence found at the crime scene. [Los Angeles Times](
Plus: Police said a 50-year-old man was charged with murder this week in the kidnapping and death of 11-year-old William Tillett of Inglewood. The case dates back nearly three decades. [Los Angeles Times](
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L.A. STORIES
Restless in WeHo: Amid the #MeToo movement, some West Hollywood residents want their mayor to resign. [Los Angeles Times](
Waste not, want not: Californiaâs wet winter has dumped an estimated 18 trillion gallons of rain in February alone. But much of it is simply going down the drain. [Los Angeles Times](
Congrats! The finalists for the 2018 Los Angeles Times Book Prizes have been announced, with Michelle Obama, Susan Orlean, Michael Ondaatje and Terrance Hayes among the nominees for the annual literary awards. [Los Angeles Times](
They are the champions: This L.A. couple have seen “Bohemian Rhapsodyâ 24 times: âItâs two hours of freedom.â [Los Angeles Times](
["Bohemian Rhapsody" couple](
Karin Dicker and Steven Sarott have seen “Bohemian Rhapsody” in a movie theater 24 times. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Becoming a meme: Andy King went viral thanks to Netflixâs Fyre Festival doc. Now heâs getting back to his day job. [Los Angeles Times](
IMMIGRATION AND THE BORDER
A stymied caravan: President Trump prevailed this week as Mexican officials stopped a caravan at the Texas border and shipped migrants to other cities. [Los Angeles Times](
The trial that was: A juror speaks out for the first time about convicting drug kingpin JoaquÃn âEl Chapoâ Guzmán. [Vice News](
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
More housing moves: Citing the increasing cost of housing across California, a Bay Area lawmaker wants to sweep away a host of local restrictions on development in an effort to spur new home building. [Los Angeles Times](
Follow the money: Faced with persistent complaints about a âpay-to-playâ culture at Los Angeles City Hall, the City Ethics Commission backed new restrictions on political donations from real estate developers seeking city approval for their building plans. [Los Angeles Times](
The state of play: Your phone and TV are tracking you, and political campaigns are listening in. [Los Angeles Times](
A party in turmoil: California Republicans look into the abyss. [Politico](
Give it a listen: Are L.A.’s high-rises ready for the Big One? [KPCC](
CRIME AND COURTS
Deadly evening: Police publicly identified three men who were shot to death recently in the Renaissance gated community on the border of Porter Ranch and Chatsworth. [Los Angeles Times](
Shooting claim: In a claim seeking $20 million from South Pasadena, the mother of Vanessa Marquez says poor tactics, negligence and overreaction on the part of police led to the actressâ fatal shooting last year. [Los Angeles Times](
In court: A woman who was shot three times and left a quadriplegic last spring is suing San Diego for gross negligence, contending that police dispatchers failed to take seriously multiple 911 calls from her mother. [Los Angeles Times](
Can he police the police? âCalifornia Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra has crafted an image as a progressive warrior. But there’s one exception: police accountability.â [CALmatters](
THE ENVIRONMENT
At an impasse: Already faltering negotiations between the Trump administration and California aimed at resolving a dispute over fuel economy standards have broken down completely. [Los Angeles Times](
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CALIFORNIA CULTURE
Cold war in the Sierra Nevada: Marines are training for winter operations. [Associated Press](
Get your glow stick: Mickey Mouse, get your rave on — Disneylandâs new show is a laser-blasting dance party. [Los Angeles Times](
Fun! Planning a road trip in California? This guide to RV parks and camping can help. [Los Angeles Times](
Whatâs that buzz? The neon sign maker that lighted up California. [Curbed LA](
Canât wait for the movie: Inside Elizabeth Holmesâ final months at Theranos. [Vanity Fair](
CALIFORNIA ALMANAC
Los Angeles area: Partly cloudy, 57, Thursday. Sunny, 62, Friday. San Diego: Showers, 55, Thursday. Sunny, 59, Friday. San Francisco area: Sunny, 57, Thursday. Partly cloudy, 54, Friday. San Jose: Sunny, 56, Thursday. Partly cloudy, 57, Friday. Sacramento: Cloudy, 56, Thursday. Sunny, 56, Friday. [More weather is here.](
AND FINALLY
Todayâs California memory comes from William Barnes:
âGrowing up in Escondido in the â50s, â60s and â70s, I made my Christmas money from picking Fuerte variety of avocados, which had a harvest season from November to May. They were bigger, thin-skinned and tastier than most of the avocado brands seen in stores today. The avocados that didn't grow to maturity I picked anyway, as these âcukes,â as they were called, were highly desired for salads. While I was living there, Escondido was in competition with Fallbrook, Vista and Poway to be designated as the Avocado Capital of the World. Nowadays, it seems the only avocados found in Escondido are found in the grocery stores, imported from someplace else.â
If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. [Send us an email](mailto:benjamin@latimes.com?subject=California%20Memory) to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.)
Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to [Benjamin Oreskes](mailto:benjamin.oreskes@latimes.com) and [Shelby Grad](mailto:shelby.grad@latimes.com?subject=Essential%20California). Also follow them on Twitter [@boreskes]( and [@shelbygrad](.
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