Think Black Friday-Cyber Monday sales are just for Instant pots and Electronics? Think travel instead, buying cheap tickets to the destinations of your dreams. You can expect to find good discounts during the flash sale season that starts Nov. 29 and ends Dec. 2, according to one fare-watching pro.

“We can expect airlines to have deeply discounted flash sales this year,” Jesse Neugarten of Dollar Flight Club wrote in an email. “Jet-fuel prices are almost half the price compared to last year, so airlines are able to offer huge discounts this month. There is so much competition in the space that if a few airlines post deals, the rest will follow.”

For competitive reasons, airlines don’t disclose the discounts before they happen. But some carriers are starting early.

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) started its sale Tuesday with L.A.-Stockholm round-trip airfares as low as $397 in January and February, and $436 in March. (Go to the Low Fare Calendar at flysas.com to find discounted airfares to a number of destinations good for travel from Jan. 8 through May 14.) Hawaiian Airlines plans to drop deals on inter-island flights Friday and other flight offers Monday.

Cathay Pacific Airways on Wednesday started a sale with $545 roundtrip tickets from L.A. to Bali, and $555 roundtrip from L.A. to Bangkok. Lots of discounts on premium economy prices too, such as L.A. to Singapore starting at $1,265 round-trip. Sale lasts through Dec. 3 for travel between Jan. 1 and May 15. Book at the airline’s Black Friday Deals website.

Alaska Airlines promises fliers will find the “biggest sales of the year” starting 9:01 p.m. Pacific time Thursday (Thanksgiving), according to a news release Tuesday.

Neugarten expects discounts as high as 60% on tickets to destinations such as Rome; Sydney, Australia; Cape Town, South Africa; Beijing and others. He also expects sales from Delta, Emirates, Singapore, British Airways, Qatar Airways, Southwest, Norwegian, JetBlue and Ryan Air.

(Dollar Flight Club, a subscription service that provides travelers with the best travel deals, is having its own Black Friday sale starting Thursday night. Pay $20 instead of $69 for the first year of Premium membership; and $29 instead of $99 for the first year of Premium Plus membership. Also online travel retailer Skyscanner will be updating its website with top Black Friday deals as soon as they hit.)

Neugarten recommends these tips when hunting for Black Friday-Cyber Monday airfare deals:

• Set up airfare price alerts on destinations you are interested in. Prices will fluctuate throughout the sale period, so if you see an airfare you like, buy it. You can set up alerts using Google Flights, Kayak, Skyscanner and Dollar Flight Club.

• Be flexible with your trip dates and airport choice. If you want to fly from smaller airports, consider nearby major hubs that may have better prices.

• Beware of budget airlines. While sales on carriers such as Spirit, Frontier and Norwegian Air may look amazing, remember to add on fees for things such as seat assignments, bags, etc., to understand the true price.

An important note: Make sure you buy from the airline during the sale season. That way you have 24 hours to cancel for free (in case you made a mistake or find a better airafre), even on a nonrefundable ticket.

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Snow Valley was a ski marketer’s dream Wednesday: a ton of early snow for the resort’s opening day. Or maybe it wasn’t such a dream. Because Snow Valley had too much snow to open.

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That’s right, the little Running Spring resort two hours from L.A. postponed its opening day Wednesday. Weather permitting, the resort will open Thursday, if you can get there. Probably not. Weather cams were showing heavy snow, with limited visibility.

Up and down California, ski resorts were celebrating the long-term benefits of the white Thanksgiving of 2019, though high winds and blizzard conditions were forcing closures and causing logistical problems for the time being.

Mammoth Lakes, the grand dame of California snow, had a foot of snow in town and a couple of feet on the mountain, with way more to come. Mountain reps were citing forecasts of up to 5 feet on the slopes.

It was a blissful early season snow, cold and generous, for resorts from the San Bernardino Mountains to Lake Tahoe.

Access was an issue, though, with chain laws in effect in spots from L.A. to San Francisco. For the latest road conditions, call the Caltrans hotline: (800) 427-7623, or go to quickmap.dot.ca.gov/.

Don’t remember how to put on chains? Here’s a primer.

As of 11 a.m., U.S. 395, the main road to the Eastern Sierra, was being blasted with rain and snow. Chain laws were in effect from Big Pine to 10 miles north of Lee Vining, just above Mammoth Lakes. North-south traffic was a problem throughout the state. Here’s how to avoid the Grapevine section of the 5 Freeway

The good news: Once this sweeping storm passes, conditions will be extraordinary and prices low during the usually slow period from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

Current ski status

(As of noon Wednesday)

Mammoth Mountain Resort (five hours from L.A.): Open with lots of cold, dry snow, but lots of wind as well. Beware the cold. Highs Thursday and Friday were expected to reach only into the teens. On Saturday, highs in the 20s are predicted.

Big Bear (two hours): Snow Summit is set to open Thursday and Bear Mountain on Friday, weather permitting. Up to 9 inches was forecast. High winds may be an issue, with southern winds of 30 to 35 mph, and gusts reaching 55 mph. Day temps will be near 31. Be sure to check road conditions.

Mountain High (90 minutes): L.A.’s nearest resort was closed Wednesday by the storms, but planning to open Thursday, conditions allowing, from 9.m. to 4 p.m.

Lake Tahoe (eight hours): Squaw and Alpine were expecting the heaviest snows Thursday, tapering off into the weekend. Again, beware of the cold. Temps in the teens were forecast through Friday.

Former model Elin Nordegren, who was married to pro golfer Tiger Woods in the 2000s, is taking another swing at selling her Florida mansion. After asking $49.5 million for the palatial estate last year, she’s put it back up for sale at $44.5 million, records show.

Spanning 1.4 acres in North Palm Beach, the oceanfront estate centers on a mammoth home of more than 25,000 square feet. In addition to breezy living spaces and high-end amenities, it holds 11 bedrooms and 18 bathrooms.

The three-story floor plan allows for a variety of styles. On the main level, common spaces such as the living room and double-island kitchen keep things calm with hardwood floors and neutral tones. Through pocketing doors, they expand to covered lounges and dining areas overlooking the ocean.

Other areas add more glamour, such as the movie theater with a wet bar and foyer with a sweeping staircase that wraps around a floor-to-ceiling chandelier. Other highlights include a wine cellar and gym with mirrored walls.

Decks and balconies hang off both sides of the home, and a rooftop lounge sits above it all. Outside, a covered kitchen and cabana populate a palm-topped patio with a custom swimming pool and spa. A flat, grassy lawn sprawls toward the ocean at the edge of the property.

A native of Sweden, Nordegren met Woods in 2001 and married him three years later. Following the couple’s divorce in 2010, she received a settlement of $100 million.

She bought the property through a trust in 2011 for $12.25 million, public records show.

Todd Peter and Cris Condon of Sotheby’s International Realty hold the listing.

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For better or worse, the month of November has always been one to remember in the world of Bitcoin.

Reasons cited for its volatile moves during the 11th month of the year run the gamut from tax-loss harvesting, to its round-the-clock trading nature, to Mercury being in retrograde. It could also just be coincidence. Whatever the cause, Bitcoin tends to go berserk in November.

Take this month, when the world’s largest cryptocurrency fell for 10 consecutive days through Tuesday of this week, notching its longest streak of down days on record. Even with Wednesday’s 6% rebound, the retreat pushed its price down about 17% and put it on pace for its worst month since November of last year. That was when Bitcoin posted its second-worst run in its history — a streak of nine down days that saw it lose 38% of its value through the end of the month, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

November has also been substantially more volatile for Bitcoin compared with other months, according to Bespoke Investment Group. Since 2011, its biggest monthly change up or down has occurred in November, with the average move coming in about 20 percentage points higher than the next largest.

“It just moves in ways that are not cyclical like other businesses and other markets,” Bobby Cho, a partner at CMS Holdings, said in a phone interview. “Toward the end of the year, other asset classes may start to quiet down just because it’s the holidays and things like that. But in crypto, because of the global nature and it never closing effectively, things are always happening.”

For years now, Bitcoin’s explosive November moves have made it a hot topic at Thanksgiving dinners around the country. This time in 2017, for instance, Bitcoin evangelists had a lot to be thankful for, with investors and speculators alike hopping on the crypto gravy train while it soared at an unprecedented rate. Through Thanksgiving day that year, Bitcoin had already posted a monstrous 760% gain for the year.

Fast forward to last year and those even remotely tied to the industry had a lot more explaining to do. The day before Thanksgiving, Bitcoin was trading around $4,400, having dropped about 69% for the year.

“Price and emotions tend to work together so when prices are at all-time highs, everyone is euphoric and probably way over their skis with regard to how fast this industry is going to grow,” Jeff Dorman, chief investment officer at Los Angeles-based investment firm Arca, said by phone. “And when things are in contraction, prices are down, everyone is depressed and acting like the world is ending.”

And this year? Despite its recent drop, Bitcoin’s still up about 95% in 2019, though it’s far off its all-time high of near $20,000 reached in December 2017. A swirl of negative headlines pushed crypto prices lower this month, chief among them China’s sudden and swift crackdown on the trading of digital assets.

Still, the decline has left many undaunted. If anything, they say, it’s a sign cryptocurrencies are maturing — the price swings are similar to those in other asset classes. After all, the argument goes, it’s still a relatively nascent market.

For Nigel Green of deVere Group, the fluctuations are no different than volatility that’s prevalent elsewhere.

“There are peaks and troughs in all financial markets; the cryptocurrency market is not — and should not be — any different,” said the firm’s chief executive officer. “Each time there is a dip in the market or a bout of volatility in cryptocurrencies, the crypto haters declare that digital currencies are finished — only for them to subsequently experience a rally. The same people do not make such extreme and unfounded statements with most other financial markets.”

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Investors capped a day of light trading on Wall Street ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday by serving up another set of stock market record highs.

The Standard & Poor’s 500, Dow Jones industrial average and Nasdaq composite indexes closed at all-time highs for the third straight day Wednesday. And the Russell 2000 index of smaller companies hit its highest level in a year.

A batch of positive U.S. economic data helped spur the broad rally, extending the market’s recent string of gains. Stock indexes have been breaking records in recent weeks as the U.S. and China have signaled that negotiations aimed at resolving their costly trade war are going well.

The latest economic data helped keep investors in a buying mood. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that the economy grew at a 2.1% rate last quarter, outpacing forecasts. The government also reported a surprisingly good increase in orders to U.S. factories and a pickup in consumer spending.

The S&P 500 index rose 13.11 points, or 0.4%, to 3,153.63. The benchmark index is on a four-day winning streak. The Dow gained 42.32 points, or 0.2%, to 28,164. The Nasdaq climbed 57.24 points, or 0.7%, to 8,705.18. The Russell 2000 added 9.87 points, or 0.6%, to 1,634.10.

Stocks have regained their footing after stumbling last week. The S&P 500 is on track for a 1.4% weekly gain as it continues setting records. The Nasdaq is up 2.2% for the week, which would mark its strongest gain since the end of summer.

The stock market has been notching gains steadily since October, shaking off recession fears that helped knock stocks into a skid in August.

Surprisingly good corporate earnings, solid economic data and interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve have helped set the stage for the market’s fall rally. Investors have also grown more optimistic about the prospects for a U.S.-China trade deal.

Traders continue to wait for developments in the latest round of negotiations between the world’s largest economies. The key question is whether both sides will be able to reach a deal before Dec. 15, when new tariffs are set to kick in on many Chinese-made items, including smartphones and laptops.

Pressure is building on both sides to complete a limited “phase one” deal before the deadline, though the Trump administration could end up postponing it, as it did in October, to allow more time for talks.

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Investors hope that negotiations can progress enough to at least help suspend the scheduled escalation.

“There is a ticking clock,” Bill Northey, senior investment director at U.S. Bank Wealth Management, said, referring to the tariffs scheduled to go into effect next month. “But at the margin right now we do seem to have progress, rather than slipping backward with respect to the ‘phase one’ trade deal.”

Technology stocks and companies that rely on consumer spending notched some of the biggest gains Wednesday. Autodesk climbed 5.5% and Under Armour gained 6.2%.

Healthcare and communication services stocks also helped lift the market. Mylan rose 2.6% and Comcast added 2%.

Banks also made gains. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 1.76% from 1.74% late Tuesday. Higher bond yields allow banks to charge more lucrative interest on mortgages and other loans. Wells Fargo rose 1%.

Industrial companies lagged the market. Deere slid 4.3% after giving investors a weak profit forecast because farmers are spending less money on new equipment. Boeing fell 1.5% after federal safety regulators indicated that they will keep full control over approvals of each new 737 Max built. The Federal Aviation Administration’s decision affects more than 300 finished Max jets sitting in storage.

Benchmark crude oil fell 30 cents to $58.11 a barrel. Brent crude oil, the international standard, dropped 21 cents to $64.06 a barrel.

Gold fell $6.90 to $1,453.40 an ounce and silver fell 14 cents to $16.91 an ounce.

The dollar rose to 109.59 Japanese yen from 109.04 yen Tuesday. The euro weakened to $1.1004 from $1.1022.

U.S. markets will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving. They’ll be open for a half day Friday.

PARIS — 

French luxury giant LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton said Monday it had reached a deal to buy U.S.-based jewelry legend Tiffany & Co. for $16.2 billion.

LVMH said in a statement that the deal valued the 180-year-old Tiffany and its 300 boutiques worldwide at $135 a share. The agreed-upon deal is higher than the $14.5-billion cash offer LVMH made last month.

The conglomerate said both companies’ boards approved the deal and hoped to finalize the takeover in 2020 subject to the approval of regulators and Tiffany shareholders.

LVMH says the deal will strengthen its position in high-end jewelry and in the U.S. market.

LVMH already owns 75 brands including Christian Dior, Fendi and Givenchy as well as watchmaker Tag Heuer. The purchase would also give LVMH a much broader foothold in the United States and broaden its offerings in jewelry.

Tiffany says the deal will ensure the company’s long-term sustainability. Tiffany, which is trying to transform its brand to appeal to younger shoppers, can use a company with deep pockets to help expand its business.

The offer comes as luxury goods companies have been wrestling with changing habits of shoppers who are increasingly buying online. They’re also purchasing secondhand luxury items from such places as the RealReal.

In addition, luxury companies are facing fears of an economic slowdown in China, a key area of business, while they’re already dealing with a slowdown in international tourism in the U.S.

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Under Chief Executive Alessandro Bogliolo, Tiffany is trying to appeal to younger shoppers with more modern takes on jewelry. Earlier this year, it launched a men’s jewelry collection, and it’s increasing its marketing to a more diverse customer base that includes same-sex couples. It’s also been renovating its flagship store in Manhattan.

Still, Tiffany’s U.S. sales have been stagnating as China’s slowing economy has weighed on spending by Chinese tourists, who make up a substantial portion of luxury spending. The strong dollar has also made Tiffany products more expensive for consumers outside the U.S.

Lady Gaga’s Haus Laboratories beauty brand and Amazon Beauty, its exclusive retail partner, are set to open a two-day pop-up shop at the Grove shopping center in Los Angeles next week.

Previously, the collection of lip liners, shimmer powders and lipsticks, which was announced in July and hit Amazon’s virtual shelves in mid-September, has been available only online.

The brand’s first bricks-and-mortar retail space is scheduled to take up residence between the American Girl store and the Pottery Barn Kids store on Dec. 5 and 6, showcasing the festive, holiday-themed Cosmic Love collection (which launched online just last week).

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In addition, the pop-up promises immersive installations, a “full glam room” (we’re not quite sure what, exactly, that is but it certainly sounds more fun than a half glam room) and a chance to meet the brand’s global artistry director, makeup artist Sarah Tanno, who will be on hand to offer holiday tips.

The Haus Laboratories products range from $16 for a lip liner to $96 for a Glam Attack Holiday Set of six shimmery liquid eyeshadow shades (which made this year’s list of Oprah’s Favorite Things), with most individual items falling in the $20 to $22 range.

Amazon Beauty X Haus Laboratories by Lady Gaga pop-up shop, the Grove, 189 The Grove Drive, noon to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 6.

A cold Thanksgiving weekend beckons, with snow levels as low as 2,500 feet predicted, meaning tire-chain laws will be in effect in many SoCal mountains. Roadside installers will be standing by, the best $25 to $75 you’ll ever spend. But be prepared to do it yourself in a pinch. And “pinch” might be the appropriate word if you’re unfamiliar with the process. A video primer helps.

Here’s a refresher

• Be sure the chains fit. Grabbing the wrong set of chains can damage tires and suspension.

• If buying chains, consider cable versions, which often are simpler to work with.

• Figure out whether the chains go on the front or back tires — the owner’s manual can assist. So can your mechanic (the orientation of the engine gives it away).

• Practice at home. Lay out the chains or cables in the driveway, and practice when it’s dry and comfortable.

• Take gloves. A light set of water-resistant gardening gloves works well.

• Make sure all loops and cables are facing the same direction. A twisted link can lead to breakage.

• Once chains are installed and tightened, drive a short distance — say, 20 feet — and retighten them.

How to drive with chains

• Tire company Les Schwab recommends listening for “a loud sound of slapping, or metal on metal.” Stop as soon as possible to prevent damage.

• 25 mph is the maximum speed with chains, most manufacturers and road safety experts say.

• Brake and accelerate gradually to avoid skids or spinouts.

• Once on dry pavement, remove the chains.

If you get stuck in snow

• If you become stranded, the auto club urges you to stay with your vehicle. That makes it easier for rescuers to locate you.

• Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna or place a cloth at the top of a rolled up window to signal distress.

• Leave the dome light on at night. It only uses a small amount of electricity and will make it easier for rescuers to

find you.

• Clear the exhaust pipe of snow, ice or mud to prevent deadly carbon monoxide from seeping into the car.

Sources: Auto Club of Southern California, Les Schwab, Esurance

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — 

Iran’s supreme leader on Wednesday claimed without evidence that recent protests across the Islamic Republic over rising gasoline prices were part of a conspiracy involving the U.S., as authorities began to acknowledge the scale of the demonstrations.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the comment while addressing members of the Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force, which helped put down the demonstrations.

Meanwhile, one lawmaker was quoted as saying authorities arrested more than 7,000 people during the protests, and a security official alleged that demonstrators attempted to take over Iranian state television.

Authorities still haven’t offered any statistics on injuries, arrests or deaths in the protests and security crackdown that followed a government-set gas price increase on Nov. 15. Amnesty International says it believes the violence killed at least 143 people. Iran disputes that figure without offering any evidence to support its claims.

In his comments reported by state media, Khamenei said the Iranian people extinguished “a very dangerous deep conspiracy that cost so much money and effort.” He praised the police, the Revolutionary Guard and the Basij for “entering the field and carrying out their task in a very difficult confrontation.”

Khamenei, who has final say on all matters of state, described the protests as being orchestrated by “global arrogance,” referring to the U.S. He described America as seeing the price hikes as an opportunity to bring their “troops” to the field but the “move was destroyed by people.”

Wednesday marks the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Basij. Videos from the protests purport to show plainclothes Basij officials and others on motorcycles beating and detaining demonstratros.

Meanwhile, the moderate news website Entekhab quoted Hossein Naghavi Hosseini, a member of parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee, as saying more than 7,000 people had been arrested in the demonstrations. He did not elaborate.

Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli also claimed in an interview late Tuesday on state television that “some 500 people” tried to storm Iran’s state television offices. He did not elaborate, and no protests had been reported in the north Tehran neighborhood home to the state broadcaster.

Fazli also estimated as many as 200,000 people took part iin the demonstrations, higher than previous claims. He said protesters damaged more than 50 police stations, as well as 34 ambulances, 731 banks and 70 gas stations in the country.

“We have individuals who were killed by knives, shotguns and fires,” he said, without offering a casualty figure.

Starting Nov. 16, Iran shut down the internet across the country, limiting communications with the outside world. That made determining the scale and longevity of the protests difficult. Although home and office internet has been restored, access on cellphones remains rare.

The gas price hike came as Iran’s 80 million people have already seen their savings dwindle and jobs scarce under crushing U.S. sanctions. President Trump imposed them in the aftermath of unilaterally withdrawing America from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers.

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Here are the stories you shouldn’t miss today:

TOP STORIES

Love or Hate Him, Schiff Is Now a Star

The House impeachment inquiry will enter a new phase next week when the Judiciary Committee holds its first public hearing to begin deciding whether President Trump will become the third president in history to face impeachment.

The Dec. 4 hearing, which could include the president’s lawyers, will focus on the historical and constitutional basis for impeachment, the definition of an impeachable offenseand the process going forward.

New polls show the public hearings have done little to change Americans’ minds so far; the public narrowly favors impeaching Trump and removing him from office but remains sharply divided. More than 70 million viewers watched some portion of the hearings.

In terms of political consequences, at least one thing is clear: Rep. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank has emerged as a rising star among Democrats, even as Republicans from Trump on down accuse him of unfairness and bias.

More Politics

— Two Office of Management and Budget officials grew frustrated with the hold on Ukraine military aid ordered by Trump and resigned from the agency, according to newly released impeachment inquiry testimony.

— Republican officials are eager to have Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo run for the Senate in Kansas, but the impeachment inquiry could complicate matters.

— Here’s what you need to know about Michael Bloomberg, the newest addition to the Democratic presidential primary field, from why he’s running to how he made his billions to whether he’s really a Democrat.

— In Jimmy Carter’s hometown of Plains, Ga., the former president is uniting Trump supporters and Democrats … to a point.

Stormy Weather

A major storm is sweeping through California. It first hit Northern California yesterday, bringing heavy snow and winds that closed Interstate 80 near Lake Tahoe, with Central and Southern California expected to get the brunt today. Though the water is welcome, the storm is raising concerns about mudflows in burn areas and the possible closure of major freeways such as Interstate 5 and 15 due to snow, just in time for Thanksgiving travel.

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In the hills northwest of Santa Barbara, residents hope the rain will extinguish the Cave fire without unleashing a deluge that could cause more life-threatening damage. And in L.A., officials said they would open some emergency shelters ahead of schedule to shield homeless people from the rain and cold.

Help for Those in Need, but …

It took months to get off the ground, but Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s plan to build a homeless shelter in every City Council district has taken off. In all, 30 shelters are in some stage of development for a total of 2,300 new beds. One problem: The city is at odds with L.A. County over who should pay. Meanwhile, L.A. officials are stepping up their lobbying efforts to secure more funding in next year’s state budget for board-and-care homes, which serve low-income people with debilitating mental illness.

Is This a Crime?

Nearly two months after Chelsea Becker delivered a stillborn baby boy, police arrested her and prosecutors charged her with murder. They cited an autopsy report showing the baby had toxic levels of methamphetamine in his system. Now, Becker is at the center of a legal and ethical debate over the criminalization of drug abuse and pregnancy that’s playing out across the country.

Food for Thought

“It’s hard to say when or how it started, but a few years ago my husband and I quit celebrating Thanksgiving,” writes Times reporter Esmeralda Bermudez. “The decision came gradually, after many conversations, after many autumns wrestling with the same uneasy feeling that came each time we gathered around a table to give thanks, to stuff our bellies full — in honor of a holiday born out of a dark history.” But what do you say and do when the kids have a Thanksgiving feast play at school? Here’s how one family learned to tell a new Thanksgiving story.

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

— If you’re driving to snowier climes and have to bust out the tire chains, you may need some tips on how to use them.

— Whether you’re in need of an emergency can of pumpkin, a cure for your post-turkey indigestion or some fast food in lieu of it, here’s a list of which stores and restaurants are open on Thanksgiving.

— Throwing together a last-minute dish to bring? Our food team suggests a secret ingredient for stuffing.

— Here are 14 must-see movies for weekend, as selected by our film critics.

— After 38 years, Slayer — dubbed “the hardest band in history” by Rick Rubin — will play its last shows at the Forum this weekend.

Editor’s note: This newsletter will be taking the rest of the week off for the holiday. We’ll be back Dec. 2.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

On this date in 1961, a long line of an unusual type of stage parents snaked around a Hollywood block, hoping for a shot at stardom — for their cats, that is. They’d been drawn there by an open casting call for three feline roles in “Tales of Terror,” a film adaptation of several Edgar Allan Poe short stories. Among them: the titular role in “The Black Cat.” The Times reported in the Nov. 28, 1961, edition:

“More than 100 black cats lined up — as much as cats will line up — for an audition for a movie part in response to a newspaper ad seeking ‘a sagacious black cat.’ There were big black cats, little black cats, gray black cats, black kittens, black and white cats, white and black cats, nervous black cats, gentle black cats. There was even a white cat. It was there to keep a pal, a black cat, company. … The movie’s stars — Joyce Jameson, Vincent Price and Peter Lorre — played with each cat. To see if it was sagacious enough, someone said.”

A professional was ultimately cast in the lead role. But seven other black cats were picked for understudy and promotional parts.

CALIFORNIA

— A 25-year-old L.A. County deputy was in critical but stable condition after she was hit by a suspected drunk driver as she chased a man who punched her through her patrol car window, authorities say.

— Garcetti has abandoned his long-stated goal of getting the city’s public employee unions to pay a portion of their healthcare costs — a major policy reversal that critics say will cost the city and taxpayers millions.

— State officials are intervening in a new court fight over home cannabis delivery in communities that have banned or restricted pot shops, escalating a legal battle with cities and counties over where marijuana can be sold.

— An aide to L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar has filed a $10-million legal claim against the city, saying his boss retaliated against him after he told the feds he thought he might be trying to extort pot shops.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS

— Taylor Swift‘s latest salvo in her fight with Big Machine Label Group and Scooter Braun over her back catalog: a new T-shirt.

— “Queen & Slim,” veteran music video director Melina Matsoukas’ feature debut, is “an adrenaline shot right to the heart, and a bold declaration of a bright new auteur,” critic Katie Walsh writes.

— Jennifer Lopez has some advice for Charlize Theron on being a celebrity, and some thoughts on what her Super Bowl performance with Shakira means in “Trump’s America.”

— Laura Dern discussed what she loved about making “Divorce Story,” and what drew her back to “Jurassic Park.”

Your support helps us deliver the news that matters most. Subscribe to the Los Angeles Times.

NATION-WORLD

— Raul Rodriguez is a Navy veteran who worked as a U.S. Customs officer for 18 years. Then investigators discovered something he says he didn’t know: He was born in Mexico. He was fired by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in July, lost his health insurance and had his residency application rejected this month.

— The Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general is investigating whether agency officials retaliated against a whistleblower who criticized cybersecurity lapses in the nation’s bioterrorism defense program.

— After decades of life expectancy gains, Americans are dying younger for the third year straight, felled prematurely by diseases linked to social and economic privation and a healthcare system with glaring gaps, new research finds.

— Beijing has ripped the Chinese movie world in two, banning its movies from the prestigious Taiwan-based awards nicknamed the “Chinese Oscars” and holding its own rival Party-sanctioned awards at the same time.

BUSINESS

— From gift card rackets to online fraud, consumers are under near-constant assault by holiday scammers during what some analysts are calling the country’s first trillion-dollar holiday season.

— A California farm labor contractor has been fined for rejecting a local worker in favor of a foreign agricultural guest, holding onto foreign workers’ documents and failing to pay them for transportation time, federal labor officials say.

SPORTS

— Yes, the Rams are corkscrewing into the ground — but then, so are most of the NFC teams that made the playoffs last season, Sam Farmer writes in a column.

— Lindsey Vonn has a warning about her new memoir and HBO documentary: “I go into a lot of detail and maybe more than I should about things, and I hope my family forgives me.”

OPINION

— Big Tech still doesn’t have a handle on its growing role in campaigns, The Times’ editorial board writes.

— A federal judge’s rejection of Trump’s claim that the White House counsel has immunity from congressional subpoena is an important decision even if it doesn’t lead quickly to potentially incriminating testimony, the editorial board says.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

— Catholic Church employees in the U.S. are sharply divided — particularly between priests and nuns — on whether women should be ordained as priests and whether sex abuse is still a major problem, a major survey by local NBC stations found. (NBC Los Angeles)

— The founders of the firm that compiled the Steele dossier on Trump are defending their work in a new book. (The New Yorker)

— After Conan the military dog visited the White House, the question on many minds was: Good boy, or good girl? So veterinarians examined the photographic evidence. (Slate)

ONLY IN L.A.

In this week’s episode of “Off Menu,” host Lucas Kwan Peterson explores the foodways of skid row, including two groups trying to provide one of L.A.’s most neglected communities with healthy food, job training and a sense of community. The Los Angeles Community Action Network runs a rooftop garden and a marketplace where residents can buy produce, get free haircuts and participate in an open mike. Skid Row Coffee, run out of the public library’s main branch, provides nutritious, affordable food, vocational training and a dignified work environment. Watch the full episode here.

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