Week in Review: What's in those barrels on the ocean floor?

The EPA did a historical investigation into the barrels of DDT dumped decades ago near Catalina Island. It found a much wider scope of pollution. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Los Angeles Times] [Essential California Newsletter] August 6, 2022 [View in browser]( [Click to view images]( Good morning, and welcome to the [Essential California newsletter](. It is Saturday, Aug. 6. Here’s a look at the top stories of the last week A “jaw-dropping” quantity of contaminants was dumped off Southern California. The Environmental Protection Agency conducted a historical investigation into the barrels of poisonous pesticide reportedly dumped decades ago near Santa Catalina Island. It found a much wider scope of pollution, with 13 other areas off Southern California approved for dumping of military explosives, radioactive waste and chemical and refinery byproducts including 3 million metric tons of petroleum waste. Much of the waste was poured directly into the ocean off barges. So what’s [so bad that they put it in barrels]( that are now lying on the ocean floor? The McKinney fire became a monster blaze, then rain hampered firefighters’ efforts. By Friday, the fire in Klamath National Forest at the California-Oregon border had burned about 60,000 acres. Midweek [rain caused mudslides]( and the precipitation “had very little effect on the fire,” said an official. Columns of smoke [penetrated Earth’s stratosphere]( as the blaze generated lightning and thunder. How safe are Coronado and Imperial Beach waters? San Diego County rolled out a new water-quality test in early May with technology using DNA. The testing initially triggered a string of beach closures, and some argued that the test was too sensitive. Then the county posted blue “warning” signs, putting the onus on beachgoers to decide whether they feel it’s [safe enough to go in the water](. California banned the sale of kangaroo leather years ago. Lawsuits contest its continued presence. The sale of kangaroo meat and leather was banned in California in 1970 after years of unregulated killing. The population of Australian kangaroos has rebounded. But animal advocates say that California retailers are still [selling soccer shoes made from kangaroo skin]( and that K-leather is the product of a brutal system of harvesting. Northern California tops the Southland in conserving water. New data suggest Californians are steadily reducing water usage in the face of severe drought, although cities and towns in the northern part of the state [are cutting back more]( than those in the thirsty and more heavily populated south. Meanwhile, Catalina Island finds some relief with a desalination plant, but [the wildlife is struggling](. L.A. Unified schools dropped their aggressive COVID-19 rules. School leaders officially stepped back from safety protocols that had been among the most far-reaching in the country, instead mirroring county requirements. What that means, among other things: continued deferment of a vaccination mandate, voluntary masking and [an end to weekly universal testing](. The state is trying to make the world’s tallest tree invisible. California’s Redwood National Park has long kept the location of the tree hidden to protect it. But it’s gained internet fame — with tromping visitors wanting to take selfies. [Now, visitors face jail and fines](. Free online games Get our free daily crossword puzzle, sudoku, word search and arcade games in our game center at [latimes.com/games](. Californians with criminal records still face housing barriers. As Gov. Gavin Newsom has pushed criminal justice reform — vowing to close prisons, signing laws to shorten some sentences and calling for the abolishment of death row — housing for those with criminal records often remains out of reach, [compounding the state’s homelessness crisis](. Newsom declared a state of emergency over the monkeypox outbreak. The proclamation makes it easier for the state to coordinate its response and [boosts vaccination efforts](. Vaccines, however, [remain in limited supply](. Meanwhile, [L.A. County]( declared a local emergency, and the Biden administration [declared a national emergency](. San Clemente will consider banning abortions. As a “sanctuary for life,” the city would stand against Planned Parenthood health centers and abortion clinics. The resolution, written by Councilman Steven Knoblock, states that the City Council “[considers life to begin at conception]( If you’re heading out to Monterey Bay this summer, you’re going to need a bigger boat. A new study shows great white sharks are on the rise in the area, and [warming waters caused by climate change]( are playing a large part. UC Berkeley halted site work at People’s Park after angry protests and police clashes. The plan is to turn the site into long-term supportive housing for homeless people and also student housing. But the park — which became in recent years an encampment for unhoused people and those with other troubles — is a treasured expanse of greenery. Protesters confronted police and construction crews, some jumping metal fences where they were tackled by CHP officers. Then the [university decided to retreat](. A state appeals court has issued an injunction temporarily halting construction, a decision that means the university will be [unlikely to resume work on the site]( at least October, assuming it prevails in the litigation. San Francisco’s D.A. is revoking plea deals in fentanyl-dealing cases. Brooke Jenkins, appointed on an interim basis after Chesa Boudin was ousted from office, is withdrawing the deals offered by her predecessor in more than 30 such cases. It’s one of the first [major shifts in the office’s approach]( under the new district attorney. Several legendary figures with ties to California have died in recent days: - Vin Scully. The sportscaster was a household name in Southern California, where he held a running conversation with baseball fans each season. Scully was the [voice of the Dodgers for more than six decades]( and his folksy manner and melodic language made him a beloved figure in American culture. Columnist Bill Plaschke pays tribute to the man who was “the soundtrack of a city, the muse of millions, [the voice of home]( - Nichelle Nichols. Nichols played Lt. Uhura on “Star Trek,” but Uhura was far more than a character in a TV show, writes TV critic Robert Lloyd in an appreciation, just as Nichols was something more than an actor: They were [inspirational figures of historical import]( both the player and the part, models of dignity who pointed to a better future simply by doing their jobs. - Bill Russell. The legendary Celtic and Oakland native was entwined in Lakers history as his Boston teams dominated the Lakers in seven NBA Finals. Russell was professional basketball’s [first Black superstar]( and a game-changing big man. He’s remembered by Jerry West as “[a difference maker]( on par with Jackie Robinson. Enjoying this newsletter? Your support helps us deliver the news that matters most. [Become a Times subscriber.]( ADVERTISEMENT ICYMI, here are this week’s great reads A Russian thug and a fake Yelp account. Two Times reporters investigated a discredited ex-doctor for allegedly practicing medicine without a license. Wild claims, a restraining order, and a court date followed. Michael Mario Santillanes, in his request to the court for a restraining order, described Times reporter Jack Dolan (5 feet, 8 inches, 170 pounds and Irish) as a violent 6-foot, 215-pound [Russian who was dating his ex-wife](. “It would be pain and surgeries.” A woman who found out late in pregnancy that her child would likely face a very brief, painful life opted for a late-term abortion. But California, which bills itself as a sanctuary for those seeking the procedure, was not an option. In practice, fetal viability is often shorthanded to 24 weeks of gestation, and some doctors won’t even consider a case after that time. What’s more, the viability definition focuses on whether life is possible, [not the quality of that life](. Today’s week-in-review newsletter was curated by Amy Hubbard. Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com. Our daily news podcast If you’re a fan of this newsletter, you’ll love our daily podcast “The Times,” hosted every weekday by columnist Gustavo Arellano, along with reporters from across our newsroom. Go beyond the headlines. Download and listen [on our App]( subscribe [on Apple Podcasts]( and follow [on Spotify](. ADVERTISEMENT Thank you for reading the Los Angeles Times Essential California newsletter. Invite your friends, relatives, coworkers to sign up [here](. Not a subscriber? Get unlimited digital access to latimes.com. [Subscribe here](. [Los Angeles Times] Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times 2300 E. 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