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Newsletter: Today: Running With the Devil. Einstein Was Right.

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

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Einstein Was Right — Again

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Humans have always relied on light — visible, infrared, radio waves and so on — to describe the universe. Now, scientists can hear it. A group of them announced Thursday that they’ve detected gravitational waves, a phenomenon predicted by Albert Einstein nearly 100 years ago. We walk you through how they did it and why it’s a preview of bigger things to come.

How the Oregon Standoff Ended

In the end, the weeks-long Oregon standoff came down to one young man. “You guys are going to have to probably kill me or watch me kill myself,” he told an FBI negotiator and an audience of tens of thousands on YouTube. Instead of in a hail of bullets, it concluded with a chorus of hallelujahs.

A Ceasefire That Includes Bombing

The U.S., Russia and other world powers agreed to a “cessation of hostilities” in Syria’s civil war next week, but it won’t apply to fighting groups designated as terrorists. As for the details of the hard-won agreement, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said those had yet to be worked out. Will it stop the carnage and let civilians receive humanitarian aid?

Monuments Man

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Volcanic spires. Joshua tree forests. Bighorn sheep. President Obama designated three new national monuments in the California desert that are home to all of these sights and more. The move federally protects 1.8 million acres between roughly Palm Springs and the Nevada border, and it ensures public access for hiking, camping and other outdoorsy activities. But there’s a political back story too.

A Marathoner Who Risks Her Life to Run

With every run, Lenore Moreno makes a statement. She has exercise-induced anaphylaxis, which means she risks a severe allergic reaction if she exerts herself after consuming certain foods or wearing various fabrics. That won’t stop her from competing in Saturday’s Olympic marathon trials. “A lot of people ask me, ‘Why do you run if you know you have a chance of getting an attack or your throat closing up?’ I just have the same answer. I love running.”

CALIFORNIA

-- The gas well leak affecting Porter Ranch homes has been stopped — at least temporarily.

-- The Coastal Commission, an agency with populist roots, takes heat over the secret-session firing of its director.

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-- Retired L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca won’t forfeit his roughly $328,000-a-year pension.

-- A transgender student’s use of a locker room causes a stir at a San Diego high school.

-- L.A. County health officials want you to eat smaller portions at restaurants. Do you think eateries should serve you less?

NATION-WORLD

-- Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders clashed in a debate on healthcare and the cost of government.

-- Carlos Santana, Zoe Saldana and other Latinos say Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush belong to the “party of Trump.”

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-- Mexican inmates’ relatives seek answers after a deadly prison riot in Monterrey.

-- Why America’s once-futuristic roads are now artifacts of the past.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS

-- Compton doesn’t have a movie theater, but that could finally change.

-- Countdown to the Grammys: Lady Gaga and songwriter Diane Warren discuss their anthem for rape survivors.

-- “Zoolander 2” blurs the line between comedy and commerce to build buzz.

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-- Craig Ferguson once again cracks wise on the History Channel’s new panel show “Join or Die.”

-- Theater review: Sean Hayes plays the Creator with ironic camp in “An Act of God.”

BUSINESS

-- A California agency funded by taxpayers is considering whether it should support research aimed at genetically modifying human embryos.

-- Do they really own that home? Beware the Airbnb scammers.

SPORTS

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-- Bill Plaschke: What will Kobe Bryant do in his final All-Star game?

-- There’s so much more to the story of the UCLA gymnast whose routine went viral this week.

-- Eric Sondheimer: Time for coaches and parents to stop high school athletes’ bad behavior.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- Steven Spielberg questions the film academy’s response to #OscarsSoWhite. (The Hollywood Reporter)

-- Meet the investor who is buying up water rights in the American West. (The Atlantic)

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-- Remember when “thirtysomething” killed off Gary 25 years ago? Times have changed. (Washington Post)

ONLY IN L.A.

Chocolate bars hand-painted in edible 24K gold. Chocolate-rose body oil. Bonbons made in the Beverly Hills shop where Lucille Ball got the idea for the “I Love Lucy” episode featuring candy making. With Valentine’s Day on Sunday, Times food editor Amy Scattergood gives you 13 places to get great chocolates in the L.A. area. How sweet it is.

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.

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