Newsletter: Essential California: The battle to open Hollister Ranch

Good morning. It is Monday, Aug. 8. Here’s what is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

Battle of the coast

The owners of property in Hollister Ranch, including surfers, celebrities and successful professionals, cherish their exclusive domain and aggressively limit access. For decades, they have fought to keep the coastline almost entirely to themselves. Now, the California Coastal Commission is pushing to open the area to the public, and a legal battle is afoot. Los Angeles Times

No. 1 in ratings, behind in diversity

CBS bills itself as “America’s Most Watched Network,” but it is struggling when it comes to diversity in programming. The network’s six new fall shows all have white male leads and has the lowest number of minority leads — three — among broadcast networks. “Look, we need to do better and we know it,” CBS Entertainment President Glenn Geller said. “In terms of year to year, looking at the leads, we are less diverse than last year.” Los Angeles Times

Shocking killings

A brazen double homicide has brought shock and outrage to a neighborhood near downtown Long Beach. A mother and her 4-year-old daughter were shot and killed Saturday night while walking home from the grocery store. “Why?” the girl’s grandmother cried over and over again. “Why my granddaughter and my daughter?” Los Angeles Times

Readers, we always love hearing from you. You can keep up with Alice and Shelby during the day on Twitter. Follow @TheCityMaven and @ShelbyGrad.

L.A. AT LARGE

End of an era: It’s been a troubling time for shopping malls in the San Fernando Valley, which in the 1970s and 1980s was so synonymous with the centers. The Macy’s in the old Laurel Plaza mall — one of the oldest in the Valley — is closing. It reflects a shift in retailing, and in Valley land use. Los Angeles Times

Rave reaction: Three deaths at a rave in San Bernardino County have reignited efforts to regulate the music festivals. San Bernardino Sun

A wrenching loss: The heartbreaking story of a woman from Rome who lost her cat at LAX — and keeps looking for the pet. Pet Rescue Report

Forever Marilyn: The famously kitschy 26-foot-tall Marilyn Monroe statue might be back in Palm Springs by September. Desert Sun

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Her turn: California Coastal Commissioner and TV producer Dayna Bochco explains her take on coastal protection and development to Steve Lopez. She also doesn’t pull punches: “You’re the conspiracy theorist,” she tells him. Los Angeles Times

Long Beach battles its future: The southeastern corner of Long Beach — home to Alamitos Bay marina — is poised for transformation under a plan the city is considering to allow taller and denser development. Some see an upscale resort-style district, but residents aren’t sold. Los Angeles Times

Millennials rising: The shift of baby boomers to millennials as California’s power voters could affect many issues. CALmatters

Lobbying: How developers in San Francisco used a respected think tank to help sell the biggest redevelopment project since the 1906 earthquake. New York Times

CRIME AND COURTS

Ripped from the headlines: The public outrage after a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge sentenced a former Stanford University student to six months in jail for sexual assault led California lawmakers to respond. But will these bill go anywhere — or pass legal muster? Los Angeles Times

Cliff deaths: The bodies of a man and a woman were discovered Sunday morning at the base of seaside cliffs in San Pedro. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Grim sight: The browning of the once-green Sierra Nevada and the potential deadly toll to come. CALmatters

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

S.F. vs. L.A. foodies: The Silicon Valley bubble appears to have hit the Northern California restaurant scene, where outrageous prices come with sourced menus. By contrast, L.A.’s food scene remains a bit more humble. “Sure, Los Angeles has expensive restaurants, but its biggest food celebrities are Jonathan Gold, a critic famous for supporting affordable eateries, and Roy Choi, king of the food trucks.” New York Times

A steal: The one-bedroom “shack” in San Francisco that sold for $1.4 million. SFGate

Diversity in tech: Silicon Valley is finally seeing some signs of diversity in hiring, even Apple. BuzzFeed

Solar question: Can Tesla go from sexy car company to cutting-edge clean-energy empire? Some wonder. Los Angeles Times

Disney cuts: With Shanghai Disneyland up and running, cuts are being made in the famed Walt Disney Imagineering department. Orange County Register

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Los Angeles will be partly cloudy with a high of 81. San Francisco will also be partly cloudy, but the temperature will reach only a high of 66 degrees. Sacramento will be sunny and hot, hitting 93 degrees during the day. Bakersfield will top out at 99 degrees.

AND FINALLY

This week’s birthdays for notable Californians:

Actor Dustin Hoffman (Aug. 8, 1937), computer pioneer Steve Wozniak (Aug. 11, 1950), L.A. County Supervisor Mike Antonovich (Aug. 12, 1939), former Laker and businessman Magic Johnson (Aug. 14, 1959).

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. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Alice Walton or Shelby Grad.