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 essential california


Essential California: A Trump-fueled civil war among California Democrats

Los Angeles Times

It is Saturday, Sept. 2. Here's what you don't want to miss this weekend: Democratic civil war: At a time when the Democratic base is more restive than it has been in decades, Sen. Dianne Feinstein ignited a firestorm earlier this week when she refused to back the impeachment of President Trump and instead called for "patience" over his presidency. Her statements could become an albatross because of the state's shifting demographics and political leanings, as the 84-year-old decides whether to seek a sixth term. New mission: After six months in an immigrant detention facility, the taquero whose daughter recorded his arrest as he took her to school has walked out as an activist. L.A.'s identity: So much of Los Angeles' dark pop culture identity was formed by the classic sci-fi movie "Blade Runner." The director of the reboot says his movie will be distinct from the original.


Essential California: Bella and Gigi Hadid's dad is in hot water over a house

Los Angeles Times

Gigi and Bella Hadid are best known for gracing the covers of magazines like Vogue and Vanity Fair. Their father, Mohamed, is grabbing headlines for a long-running legal fight over the construction of a Bel-Air mansion. The 68-year-old has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges in the case Tuesday. But the fate of the roughly 30,000-square-foot mega-mansion remains unclear. The Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc has been busy lately.


Essential California: Protesters rally outside LAPD headquarters

Los Angeles Times

It is Wednesday, July 13. The newest trend in San Francisco is robots acting as security guards. But can they be trusted to keep us safe? A mother says her toddler was knocked down and run over by a robot in Palo Alto. Here's what else is happening in the Golden State: Protesters marched outside LAPD headquarters before taking to City Hall on Tuesday as the Police Commission found that the fatal shooting of a 30-year-old woman was within the department's policy.


Essential California: The 'Holy Grail' for earthquake scientists gets destroyed

Los Angeles Times

It is Wednesday, July 6. A 300-pound robot is the new security guard at Uber's inspection lot in San Francisco. Here's what else is happening in the Golden State: When undercover CHP officers shot at suspects in a moving car this weekend, they used a tactic that's been outlawed in many major cities because experts believe it's too dangerous. They fired at a moving car. "Only a fool thinks a … bullet is going to stop a 3,800-pound car. Nobody is really shooting at the vehicle, they're shooting at the driver," said Sid Heal, a retired Los Angeles sheriff's commander and chairman of strategy development for the National Tactical Officers Assn.


Essential California: The future of self-driving cars

Los Angeles Times

It is Monday, July 4. Celebrate Independence Day with a fireworks display. Here's what else is happening in the Golden State: For the men and women who lived through the Dec. 2 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, there is no closure. Fighting off the horror of that event is a daily struggle, they say. "They were living through their own trauma of a terrorist attack when another one, in Orlando, brought back fresh memories of the bloodshed they endured. And the world's attention shifted again."