Newsletter: Today: Yes, the Force Is With Us

I'm Davan Maharaj, editor of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some storylines I don't want you to miss today.

TOP STORIES

Dialing It Back

Doctors agree that mammograms are an important tool in detecting breast cancer. The American Cancer Society now advises women in good health and with average cancer risk that they can wait until they are 45 to get their first screening test. The new guidelines are a departure from previous recommendations that women get their first mammogram at age 40. The key message is that women should consult their doctors, rather than follow strict, one-size-fits-all rules that may result in overtreatment.

A Disturbance in the Force

Start with the NFL juggernaut "Monday Night Football." Splice in a new "Star Wars" trailer at halftime. What you get is marketing supreme for "The Force Awakens," the latest installment of the sci-fi film series, which will open on Dec. 17. The much-publicized, highly coordinated halftime event gripped the social media world and crashed ticket sales websites. The secret? Build buzz but don't reveal too much.

Stung by a Veto

What does it mean to be Asian American? That one box to check on a survey encompasses many nationalities, among them Taiwanese, Hmong, Laotians, Indians, Pakistanis and a host of Pacific Islanders. Gov. Jerry Brown, citing concerns about "an ever growing desire to stratify," recently vetoed a bill that would have asked California schools and a health agency to collect more detailed data on individual groups rather than gather them into one category. But activists say that the general label is absurdly broad and that they'll continue to push for a more nuanced approach.

The Heart of the Matter

The volatile events that sparked the Black Lives Matter movement might have faded from the media's top headlines, but activists remain committed to keeping alive their movement for racial equality. In Los Angeles their targets are Mayor Eric Garcetti and the LAPD. On Monday night a community forum was disrupted by members of the group, and city officials are wrestling with how to engage protesters while maintaining order.

Beyond Skid Row

At a strip mall in Sylmar, in the northeast corner of the San Fernando Valley, where the homeless congregate in increasing numbers, business owners say they have mixed feelings. They're concerned about filth and lawlessness, but they also feel compassion for the street people they have become acquainted with. It's a cycle of action and reaction among the homeless, the merchants and residents, the police, and the public and private outreach workers who offer services. The relationships are at the center of today's Great Read.

CALIFORNIA

-- L.A. leaders ask HUD secretary for more money to combat homelessness.

-- The permitting process drags on for ride-hailing services to operate at LAX.

-- The first public meeting about the selection of a new L.A. Unified School District superintendent is small but gets lively.

-- Human remains are found in a Palmdale vehicle buried in last week's mudslides.

-- USC students' bid for a fall break is denied.

NATION-WORLD

-- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss military operations.

-- Paul Ryan says he will run for House speaker if the Republican Party unites behind him by Friday.

-- Jim Webb exits the Democratic presidential race and weighs a run as an independent.

-- Joe Biden offers a new account of his role in the Bin Laden raid.

-- Critics say air marshals, much wanted after 9/11, have become "bored cops" flying first class.

-- What lies ahead for new Canadian leader Justin Trudeau. Plus, the prime minister as style icon.

-- U.N. chief appeals for calm in Israel, but violence flares again.

BUSINESS 

-- Tesla shares dive after Consumer Reports yanks its recommendation for the Model S.

-- Taxpayers may have to ante up more because CalPERS may risk less.

-- Michael Hiltzik: Google Books survives another legal challenge.

SPORTS

-- Utah, Stanford rise in Pac-12 after getting little respect in college football preseason.

-- Why Dodgers' choice on Don Mattingly is not simply "keep him" or "fire him."

-- Lamar Odom is moved to an L.A. hospital, where a long recovery awaits. Plus, Bill Plaschke surveys the scene.

ENTERTAINMENT

-- "Back to the Future" Day: What the franchise sneakily got right.

-- Michael Bublé and Seth MacFarlane pay tribute to Frank Sinatra.

-- Hou Hsiao-Hsien's "The Assassin" gives martial arts an art-house punch.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- On Wired, a discussion about whether we should be capitalizing the word "Internet."

-- The Atlantic offers the story of a professional musician who couldn't tolerate sound after suffering ear trauma.

-- What's wrong with the "Star Wars" TIE fighters (Jalopnik).

ONLY IN L.A.

Do you have more than three cats? Do you want more than three cats? Then if you're an L.A. resident, things are looking up. The City Council moved one step closer to allowing five cats per household, to encourage adoption and reduce the number of animals euthanized. Next question: Are you also a hoarder? We can start working on that law too.

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.