Newsletter: Amazon drivers feel the holiday pressure

Good morning. It’s Monday, Dec. 19, and here’s what’s happening in California:

TOP STORIES

Drug risks

Facing a national opioid epidemic, U.S. doctors are turning away from painkillers. So Purdue Pharma is moving into Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa — regions ill-prepared to deal with the ravages of addiction. Here is the latest in The Times’ series on OxyContin. Los Angeles Times

Silent partners

Much of the debate about illegal immigration and the Trump era has focused on Latinos. Many Asian immigrants find themselves in the same position — but have decided to be more quiet about it. “Because Latinos get the brunt of the anti-immigrant backlash, Asians may feel they can stay on the sidelines,” said Apolonio Morales, political director for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. “But if the target suddenly shifts toward Asians, they would be compelled to act.” Los Angeles Times

Pushed to the limit

This is the busy season in California’s sprawling warehouse and logistics industry, where Amazon is top dog. Delivery drivers in interviews with The Times and in court documents say Amazon is working them past a reasonable point and often avoids paying them overtime or giving legally required meal breaks. Los Angeles Times

L.A. STORIES

Wedding tragedy: Investigators are looking into a tragedy on what was supposed to be a joyous day. A large eucalyptus tree fell on a wedding party at a Whittier park Saturday, killing one woman and injuring several others. Los Angeles Times

Zsa Zsa dies: Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, who pioneered a modern version of celebrity, died at age 99. She had been in declining health after being injured when a Rolls-Royce in which she was riding, with her hairdresser at the wheel, jumped a curb in West Hollywood and struck a light pole in 2002. Los Angeles Times

Stand up to bullying: The San Fernando Valley is rallying around a boy who was seriously hurt when he was sucker-punched at a mall. Daily News

Big hack: The confidential health data or personal information of more than 750,000 people may have been accessed in a cyberattack on Los Angeles County employees in May that led to charges last week against a Nigerian national, officials have disclosed. Los Angeles Times

Lord Vader would be proud: With “Star Wars” the big movie this week, a look at the L.A. buildings that are so, well, distinctive that they made the list of Death Star architecture. Curbed Los Angeles

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Uber vs. S.F.: Inside Uber’s risky war with regulators over self-driving cars in San Francisco. Will the company’s in-your-face ethos finally meet its match? Los Angeles Times

Plus: This video of an Uber self-driving car running a red light is not helping the company, even though Uber maintains it was due to human error. BuzzFeed News

Academic drama: UC Riverside Provost Paul J. D’Anieri announced Friday that he would step down from his administrative post, just days after the faculty said it would meet to consider a vote of no confidence in his leadership. Los Angeles Times

Retirement woes: For those who believe that California is in danger of breaking its promise of retirement cash for local and state government workers, this week marks another important milestone in taking stock of the effort to change course. Los Angeles Times

CRIME AND COURTS

Gun run: California’s sweeping gun control legislation in July has triggered a run on firearms across the state, with some stores reporting sales have doubled since then. Los Angeles Times

The role of religion: When a religious organization takes in victims of sex trafficking, things can get sensitive very quickly. Sacramento Bee

Reform status: For California criminals helped by Prop. 47, the road back has been long and complicated. Desert Sun

Raisin legal drama: The California raisins are off the airwaves, but they remain a force in the courtroom. As recently as the last week of November, a group of raisin growers won a skirmish in federal court. It allows them to expand a compensation claim against the government for hundreds of thousands of dollars in raisins held off the market by agricultural officials in an effort to support prices. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Coastal access: The big promises California made generations ago to protect its beaches are proving difficult to keep in 2016. San Francisco Chronicle

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Cold shoulder? So if San Francisco is so liberal, why are voters being so parsimonious when it comes to new taxes for some pressing city needs? A case in point is when it comes to San Francisco’s homeless population. New York Times

Fences: After complaints from residents about growing homeless problems, Riverside officials are considering an extreme solution: fencing off parts of parks. Press-Enterprise

Respecting the dead: Behind the tragedy of the Ghost Ship, there are questions about gender identity and how to treat some victims with respect. East Bay Times

Expanding the “Star Wars” narrative: The latest “Star Wars” movie had a monster opening weekend, as expected, but it did less business than its predecessor, which opened a year ago. Still, it’s great news for Disney, which has been trying to expand the “Star Wars” franchise beyond its central narrative. Los Angeles Times

Trying to reconcile: Her Japanese American relatives were interned in California during World War II. Now, a woman tries to understand why some of them are supporting Donald Trump. New York Times

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Los Angeles area: After a cold weekend, things should warm up a bit, with highs approaching 70. San Francisco area: Mostly sunny, with highs in the lower 50s. Sacramento: Partly cloudy, with highs in the low 50s.

AND FINALLY

This week’s birthdays for notable Californians: Rep. Zoe Lofgren (Dec. 21, 1947), former L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (Dec. 21, 1948), film producer Jeffrey Katzenberg (Dec. 21, 1950) and former Dodger and Padres player Steve Garvey (Dec. 22, 1948).

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 Shelby Grad.