Essential California

Happy Labor Day, California. In honor of the holiday, Julia Wick has the day off — and we’re keeping things short. Here is what’s going on around the state. – Shelby Grad

TOP STORIES The Angels face significant potential liability ahead in the death of player Tyler Skaggs, who died with two opioids in his bloodstream, plus enough alcohol that he would have been considered legally impaired. One key question: How did he get the drugs? Los Angeles Times The majority of fentanyl is now smuggled into the U.S. from Mexico, where it is remaking the drug trade as traffickers embrace it over heroin, which is more difficult and expensive to produce. U.S. border agents have been intercepting increasing amounts of fentanyl. Los Angeles Times A cheerleader’s blackface video in Fresno is roiling the city, and bringing back ghosts of past racism. Los Angeles Times

L.A. STORIES Scientists say an earthquake fault along the Los Angeles coast, previously believed to be dormant, is active and could cause a destructive magnitude 6.4 earthquake if it ruptured. Los Angeles Times

The Wilmington Blind-Thrust fault stretches about 12.5 miles. (U.S. Geological Service)

How L.A.’s rapid gentrification is hitting nonprofits hard. Los Angeles Times A Reseda parking lot is becoming an unexpected success story in helping the homeless in the San Fernando Valley. Los Angeles Daily News One of L.A.’s original boba shops is celebrating 20 years. “We’re one of the OG boba shops, and we keep everything traditional, from our recipes to our cups, with that ribbed design.” San Gabriel Valley Tribune Tough day for USC football in Fresno. Los Angeles Times Is L.A.’s effort to bring homeless people from camps to housing working? We talked to many stakeholders to find out. Los Angeles Times

CRIME AND COURTS Why is O.J. Simpson still being celebrating on the USC campus? Los Angeles Times Sirhan Sirhan, who is serving a life sentence for the 1968 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, was reportedly stabbed at a San Diego-area prison. Los Angeles Times This Carmel Valley woman is not taking down her British flag, no matter what her homeowners association says. San Diego Union-Tribune

HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT Private firefighters can help contain fires and minimize damage, but their goals aren’t always in sync with their municipal, state and federal colleagues. San Diego Union-Tribune What is happening to California’s sea otters? The threat from an surprising source. New York Times Learning to survive, and learning about yourself, during 14-days alone in the Sierra Nevada. LAist

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT Yes, you can be evicted in an effort to create more affordable housing. San Francisco Chronicle Plus: Why are California housing permits down amid a historic shortage? Sacramento Bee Maybe more people are fleeing the Bay Area than coming in. Mercury News The looming political battle over the gig economy in Sacramento and beyond. Wall Street Journal

CALIFORNIA CULTURE Comedian Kevin Hart and his driver suffered major injuries Sunday when his 1970 Plymouth Barracuda rolled down an embankment on Mulholland Highway in Calabasas. City News Service Disneyland’s futuristic Tomorrowland hasn’t been updated since 1998. Some fans say it’s now hopelessly out of date. Orange County Register San Francisco’s Embarcadero in 2019 is a strange blend of real and fake city. San Francisco Chronicle Lana Del Rey’s big L.A. Labor Day weekend. Los Angeles Times California in the 1970s was a weird place. The New Yorker

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC Los Angeles: mostly sunny, 89. San Diego: partly cloudy, 82. San Francisco: cloudy, 73. San Jose: sunny, 84. Sacramento: sunny, 97. More weather is here.