June 17, 2023

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The Little Tokyo/Arts District station during a "sneak peek" ride on the new Regional Connector, which opened Friday. The tour showcased Metro's three new underground stations: Little Tokyo/Arts District, Historic Broadway and Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

By Kevinisha Walker Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It is Saturday, June 17. Here’s a look at the top stories of the last week Metro’s new downtown tracks can speed up your travel. Here’s what to know. After three years, the 1.9-mile Regional Connector has finally opened with three new stations to downtown Los Angeles. The main significance of the new line isn’t the extra stations, however; it’s the two major holes in the Metro system that the Regional Connector’s tracks plug. Californians were asked to cut water use 15% during the drought. How close did they get? Not close enough. Between July 2021 and March of this year, statewide savings were 7%, or about half of what was requested. These are California’s dirtiest beaches. Is your favorite on the list? Of the worst beaches for water quality, five were in San Mateo County and two were in Los Angeles County. (Looking at you, Santa Monica pier!) L.A. City Councilmember Curren Price was charged with embezzlement and perjury. Price, who was charged with 10 counts of embezzlement, perjury and conflict of interest, is the latest in a years-long parade of elected city officials to face public corruption allegations from state or federal prosecutors. Texas sends busload of 42 migrants to Los Angeles. The group of people, including eight children, arrived after a 23-hour bus ride without food, according to Jorge-Mario Cabrera, director of communications for immigrant rights group CHIRLA.