Newsletter: L.A. River project comes with $250-million price tag

Good morning. It is Friday, Sept. 23. A Good Samaritan came to the rescue of a bear cub trapped in a Dumpster in Mammoth Lakes. Here’s what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

A star is born

Young performers looking for a break in Hollywood may believe that winning a Young Artist Award will be their ticket to meetings with directors and producers. Instead, they’re more likely to find “a Fellini-esque assortment of showbiz hangers-on.” Over the years, that has included a handful of people found by authorities to have troubling backgrounds with children. Los Angeles Times

On the river

Plans to make over 11 miles of the Los Angeles River could reach a cost of $1.6 billion — considerably more than was first suggested two years ago. A new report finds it would cost $252 million to turn a former rail yard along the river into park space and wetlands. Mayor Eric Garcetti has championed the project for years, calling this parcel the “crown jewel” of the 11-mile plan. Los Angeles Times

VIN SCULLY

It is truly the end of an era. After 67 years behind the microphone, broadcaster Vin Scully will call his final games at Dodger Stadium this weekend. The team will celebrate “Vin Scully Appreciation Day” with special tributes and fireworks this evening. Scully will call his final game on Oct. 2 in San Francisco.

Like no other: Colleagues and friends reflect on a career that’s unlikely to ever be repeated. ESPN

How it all began: Columnist Patt Morrison talks to former L.A. City Councilwoman Roz Wyman about Vin Scully. Wyman is credited with bringing the Dodgers — and Scully — to Los Angeles in 1958. Los Angeles Times

A family man: Vin Scully is certainly more than broadcaster — he’s a family man. His wife of almost 43 years, Sandi Scully, talks about his sunny personality and how they spend their time when he’s not announcing baseball games. Dodger Insider

Tell us your story: We’re sending a massive love letter from Los Angeles to Scully — and we want you to be a part of it. Please share your favorite stories, memories and photos at latimes.com/vinscully and they could get hand-delivered to the legend himself.

L.A. AT LARGE

Annual pass is back: Disneyland is bringing back the annual pass for Southern California residents — for a price. The pass will cost $459 and allow SoCal residents to visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure 227 days a year. Los Angeles Times

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Just a few words: The November ballot is littered with state and local measures. Are you ready to study up for Nov. 8? Here are haikus to summarizing each measure. LA Weekly

Going negative: Rep. Loretta Sanchez is stepping up her attacks on state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris, her opponent in the November campaign for the U.S. Senate. It’s a delicate art, however, not to alienate fellow Democrats. Los Angeles Times

Bloody brawl: Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson beat up a protester after he was hit in the face with a store-bought pie Wednesday while attending a benefit dinner. The mayor, a former NBA player, landed five to 10 blows, according to witnesses. A booking photo showed Sean Thompson, 32, with two sets of stitches around his left eye. East Bay Express

Comic relief: Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton talked to comedian Zach Galifianakis for his “Between Two Ferns” Web episode. “What’s the best way to reach you? Email?” YouTube

What plants crave: The 2006 film “Idiocracy” depicts a future in which Americans reject intellectual curiosity and choose a former professional wrestler to be their president. The film has gotten a second life in the era of GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. Alamo Drafthouse will release the film again for one day only. Hollywood Reporter

CRIME AND COURTS

Publishing platform: The California Supreme Court will review Yelp’s objections to a court decision ordering the Web company to delete negative comments about a law firm. Dawn Hassell sued a former client who posted comments that the firm called “inaccurate and defamatory.” Internet companies like Google and Twitter and 30 news organizations, including the Los Angeles Times, wrote the court in support of Yelp’s case on the basis of free speech. Los Angeles Times

Serious allegation: The FBI was informed of a “child welfare” incident on an international flight last week that involved actor Brad Pitt, according to a source. There are few details other than the incident involved Pitt and one of his children. The L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services is investigating, the source said. Los Angeles Times

Media law: Charles Harder is the Beverly Hills attorney fighting media giants — Gawker, New York magazine, the Daily Mail — on behalf of his celebrity clients. “I believe very strongly in a free press. But I don’t believe in a reckless press. The First Amendment isn’t unlimited,” he says. Hollywood Reporter

BUSINESS

Security questions: The personal information in 500 million Yahoo accounts was stolen during a massive security breakdown. The hack occurred in 2014 but was only disclosed this week. Stolen data include “users’ names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords and security questions for verifying an account holder’s identity.” Los Angeles Times

What’s in this? The vegan food company Hampton Creek (“Just Mayo”) used impressive environmental statistics and sales figures to raise money from Silicon Valley billionaires. But now, those numbers are being called into question. “At Hampton Creek, it fits a pattern of mistaken or exaggerated claims that may prove to be deliberately deceptive.” Bloomberg

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Bottled water: Nestle can continue to take water from federal land in San Bernardino despite an expired permit. That’s the ruling of a federal judge who said the company’s permit is still valid because its predecessor “contacted the Forest Service to renew the permit before the old one expired in 1988, but the company never heard back from the agency.” Nestle pumps out about 98,000 gallons of water a day and bottles it as Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water. Associated Press

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Wine tasting: Wines in Temecula have never received the same respect as wines in Napa Valley or Paso Robles. Vintners in Southern California, however, are trying to change that. Five wineries have come together to prove to wine snobs that their vino can hold its own. Los Angeles Times

Take a knee: Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers graces the latest issue of Time magazine (the cover story is available online only to subscribers). The story will focus on his protest against police brutality. SFist

Friend zone: One man let Facebook’s algorithm run his life for a week. Buzzfeed

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Sacramento will be sunny with a high of 81. There will be lots of sunshine and a high of 69 in San Francisco. Los Angeles will be 81 and sunny. Riverside will be 85 and sunny. It will be 75 and mostly sunny in San Diego.

AND FINALLY

Today’s California Memory comes from Marianne Coffey:

“About 20 years ago we were driving home to Ventura from LAX along Pacific Coast Highway. We had just passed the incline heading toward Malibu when a limousine pulled up alongside our car. I looked over hoping to see a movie star, but the windows were darkly tinted. As it pulled away, I grinned at the livery license plate. It read: ‘Guess Who.’ ”

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.