Essential: Will California still be able to regulate auto emissions under Trump?

[Essential California] Essential California [Send to friend] | [Open in browser] Good morning. It’s Thursday, Jan. 19, and here’s what’s happening across California: TOP STORIES Smog check Donald Trump’s pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency cast doubt on whether California should continue to have power to impose its own emission rules for cars and trucks, an authority the state has enjoyed for decades. It’s also the cornerstone of California’s efforts to fight global warming. In recent years, California regulators have used the waiver to force automakers to build more efficient vehicles, which has helped the state cut its greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks by nearly a third since 2009. [Los Angeles Times] Cold comfort With another round of winter storms hitting California this week, the question isn’t just how much rain and snow they will dump but how cold they will be. The coldness of storms can make the difference between one that adds to California’s fast-rising snowpack — an essential source of water for the state — and one that also leaves a wet mess. [Los Angeles Times] Plus: A trio of storms now headed for Southern California will bring dangerous surf, strong winds and up to 6 inches of rain by early next week. [Los Angeles Times] Lowering sights A compromise might be in the offing for a highly controversial Westside development. The developer of a residential tower planned near the Beverly Center said Wednesday he has agreed to reduce the height of his project, taking it from 20 stories down to 16. Businessman Rick Caruso said he would redesign the La Cienega project and provide an extra $500,000 for affordable housing. [Los Angeles Times] ADVERTISEMENT L.A. STORIES Changing market: Inglewood’s real estate fortunes are expected to rise now that it will be home to two NFL teams. [Los Angeles Times] Medi-Cal fears: Along with his vow to repeal Obamacare, President-elect Trump has promised to restructure Medicaid, the nation’s low-income health program — a move that could be acutely felt in California, where 1 in 3 residents receive health coverage through the state version. [Los Angeles Times] When he was Barry: As Barack Obama leaves office, a look back at his time in L.A. [KCET] No BART, though: The San Francisco-ization of Venice. [LA Weekly] School fight: A big political battle is heating up in L.A. schools. Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan gave $1 million Wednesday to an independent campaign to defeat school board president Steve Zimmer. [Los Angeles Times] POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT Get it together: “So stop bawling, California. We are out of step, thank God, because civil rights, human rights and environmental protection are civic virtues in the Golden State, and we’re going to build a kale-powered bullet train through almond and walnut orchards, come hell or high water. We voted overwhelmingly for Clinton, with Meryl Streep a close second. And let’s face it — we’re going to get kicked in the teeth because of it.” –Steve Lopez, in Washington for the Trump “coronation.” [Los Angeles Times] Plus: Meet the L.A. Democratic lawmakers who are bucking the trend and attending Trump’s inaugural. [Daily News] … and the kids from Orange County who are playing hooky to go. [Orange County Register] One more time? Dianne Feinstein gave a pretty strong hint that at age 83 she will seek reelection to the U.S. Senate. But you’ve got to look at the tea leaves just right. [Los Angeles Times] Neopalpa donaldtrumpi: A UC Davis researcher has named a threatened species of moths after Trump. [Sacramento Bee] CRIME AND COURTS Protest policing: With more protests planned for the next few days, it’s time to examine why the Los Angeles Police Department has been arresting more anti-Trump demonstrators than police in other cities. [Los Angeles Times] You oughta know: A business manager for singer Alanis Morissette has admitted that he embezzled millions of dollars from the musician, then told her that he’d used the money to invest in marijuana grows, according to a federal court document. [Los Angeles Times] Trump payout: Three days before his presidential inauguration, Trump paid out $25 million in compliance with the settlement reached in three Trump University lawsuits based out of San Diego. [Los Angeles Times] DROUGHT AND CLIMATE Great outdoors: What the death of the ancient Sequoia “tree tunnel” during California’s winter storms says about humans and their relationship to nature. “What was really meant was that it was our tree, our human tree, the one we singled out and marked with the illusions of our time. Its hollow had been razored with initials, and its wood had the polish of frequent touch.” [The New Yorker] Raining on their parade: Heavy rain could postpone the much anticipated return of the Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland. [Orange County Register] ADVERTISEMENT CALIFORNIA CULTURE Listing price is … what? So what does a $250-million L.A. home look like? It has 38,000 square feet spread across four floors, 12 bedrooms, 21 bathrooms, three kitchens, a 40-seat movie theater, an infinity pool with a swim-up bar and 270-degree hilltop views from downtown to the ocean. But wait, there’s more. [Los Angeles Times] Don’t walk this way: So why are so many BART escalators breaking down? Officials believe it’s because commuters are walking the wrong way. [SFGate] P.S.: Why some many ex-presidents — apparently including Barack Obama — radiate toward Palm Springs after leaving the White House. [Desert Sun] Tough crowd: Neither the Chargers nor the Rams are exactly L.A. Showtime. “We figure if L.A. doesn’t care about having two wretched NFL football teams, it won’t notice a third.” [Wall Street Journal] Get your paper: The LA Weekly is for sale — and looking for a buyer interested in high-quality journalism. [LA Weekly] CALIFORNIA ALMANAC Los Angeles area: Showers with highs in the low 60s. San Diego: Rain with highs in the low 60s. San Francisco area: Rain with highs in the low 50s. Sacramento: Scattered thunderstorms with highs in the low 50s. [More weather is here.] AND FINALLY Today’s California memory comes from Steve Hansen: “In the early ’50s our extended family — grandma, an aunt, my mom and dad and younger brother — lived at the intersection of Walnut and Chestnut in San Gabriel. One morning, in the wee hours when we were all asleep, the house began to shake. Shouts of ‘EARTHQUAKE,’ ‘GET IN A DOORJAMB’ and ‘OUTSIDE’ rang out. However, when the shaking stopped, we found ourselves under the dining room table. All eyes turned to my grandmother. She was the grand matron of our clan, and this time the queen had no clothes. Nada. There was some embarrassment, but I’m really glad we did not seek refuge ‘OUTSIDE’ with the neighbors.” If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. [Send us an email] 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. 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