SERIES

The Neighborhood When the Johnsons’ Christmas present for Grover (Hank Greenspan) is stolen, Calvin and Dave (Cedric the Entertainer, Max Greenfield) team up to recover the gift in time for the holiday. Also Tina (Tichina Arnold) tries to get into the Christmas spirit by reviving traditions from when Malcolm and Marty (Sheaun McKinney, Marcel Spears) were kids. 8 p.m. CBS

The Voice The final four artists perform live as the finals begin. 8 p.m. NBC

The Great Christmas Light Fight The season finale of the unscripted series features holiday displays in Edmond, Okla.; Milton, Fla.; Moreno Valley, Calif.; Rossville, Ind.; Mechanicsville, Va.; Novato, Calif.; Boerne, Texas; and Las Vegas. 8 p.m. ABC

Bob Hearts Abishola Bob, Douglas and Christina (Billy Gardell, Matt Jones and Maribeth Monroe) try to get Dottie (Christine Ebersole) to make a will. Also, Abishola and Kemi’s (Folake Olowofoyeku, Gina Yashere) friendship is tested by a lie in this new episode of the romantic comedy. 8:30 p.m. CBS

All Rise With her schedule packed with holiday parties, Lola (Simone Missick) is called to appear before the Commission on Judicial Performance and defend herself against a formal bias complaint. Also, Judge Benner (Marg Helgenberger) recruits Sara, Emily and Luke (Lindsay Mendez, Jessica Camacho, J. Alex Brinson) to stage a “Wizard of Oz”-themed mock trial in which Dorothy is accused of killing the Wicked Witch of the West in this new episode of the courtroom drama. 9 p.m. CBS

Holiday Baking Championship Host Jesse Palmer challenges the four remaining bakers to give gold-covered chocolate coins, a Hanukkah classic, a new twist. 9 p.m. Food Network

Good Trouble When the Fosters visit the Coterie for Christmas, Callie (Maia Mitchell) struggles to tell her moms (Sherri Saum and Teri Polo) about quitting her clerkship. Also, Mariana (Cierra Ramirez) agrees to volunteer for a festival for the underprivileged in this two-hour holiday episode of the spinoff drama. 9 p.m. Freeform

His Dark Materials Lyra (Dafne Keen) must use her methods of deception to outwit a formidable foe in this new episode of the fantasy drama. 9 p.m. HBO

Bull Bull (Michael Weatherly) and the team take a difficult pro bono murder case before the holidays and soon realize it will take a Christmas miracle to win. Geneva Carr and MacKenzie Meehan also star. 10 p.m. CBS

Independent Lens The new episode “Attla” profiles Alaskan native and dogsled champion George Attla, focusing on his ability to identify and train exceptional dogs. 10 p.m. KOCE

Christmas Cookie Challenge Host Eddie Jackson challenges bakers to use classic cookie cutters to create dazzling designs that have nothing to do with the cutters’ original shapes. 10 p.m. Food Network

SPECIALS

Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir Featuring Kristin Chenoweth Chenoweth is the featured soloist for this musical special that has become a seasonal tradition. Highlights include “We Need a Little Christmas,” “O Holy Night,” “Angels Among Us,” “What Child Is This?” and “Somewhere in My Memory.” 9 p.m. KOCE

Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown 2019 Kevin Frazier and Keltie Knight (“Entertainment Tonight”) anchor this annual special, which counts down the 12 best holiday TV commercials. 9 p.m. The CW

Holidays With the Houghs Choreographers Derek and Julianne Hough team up for their first holiday special, a festive hour that will spotlight the pair together and individually in a series of elaborate show-stoppers, as they put their own spin on beloved Christmas classics and share their family’s favorite holiday tradition. 10 p.m. NBC

Jimmy Kimmel Live After Darth: A Star Wars Special This new special features the director and cast members of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” Guests include J.J. Abrams, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Naomi Ackie, Kelly Marie Tran and Keri Russell. 10 p.m. ABC

A Very Brady Renovation In this festive new “Holiday Edition” of the home makeover series, Ree Drummond (“Pioneer Woman”) and Jasmine Roth (“Hidden Potential”) team up with “The Brady Bunch” cast members — Barry Williams (Greg), Maureen McCormick (Marcia), Christopher Knight (Peter), Eve Plumb (Jan), Mike Lookinland (Bobby) and Susan Olsen (Cindy) — to whip up ’70s-era treats and retro Christmas decorations. 10 p.m. HGTV

MOVIES

This Changes Everything Oscar winner Geena Davis is an executive producer on this critically acclaimed documentary, which examines the under-representation of women in many facets of the entertainment industry. The film includes interviews with a number of Hollywood power players including Davis, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Rashida Jones, Natalie Portman, Reese Witherspoon, Sandra Oh, Jessica Chastain, Tiffany Haddish, Taraji P. Henson and Shonda Rhimes. 9 p.m. Starz

TALK SHOWS

CBS This Morning Sally Field; Sam Mendes; George MacKay; Gretchen Rubin. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS

Today Jennifer Hudson (“Cats”); Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser (“Mad About You”); Charlotte Nebres; Brett Eldredge performs. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC

KTLA Morning News (N) 7 a.m. KTLA

Good Morning America Charlize Theron; Brie Larson. (N) 7 a.m. KABC

Good Day L.A. Sheriff Alex Villanueva; Maria Menounos; David Kessler. (N) 7 a.m. KTTV

Live With Kelly and Ryan Jennifer Hudson (“Cats”); author Thomas Schumacher. (N) 9 a.m. KABC

The View Robert De Niro (“The Irishman”). (N) 10 a.m. KABC

Rachael Ray Lea Michele; chef Andrew Zimmern and Adeev and Ezra Potash. (N) 10 a.m. KTTV

The Wendy Williams Show (N) 11 a.m. KTTV

The Talk Sebastian Maniscalco; Paul Wesley. (N) 1 p.m. KCBS

Tamron Hall (N) 1 p.m. KABC

The Dr. Oz Show Romaine lettuce recalls; a lettuce substitute; the cheese wars. (N) 1 p.m. KTTV

The Kelly Clarkson Show Julianne and Derek Hough; Christian Siriano. (N) 2 p.m. KNBC

Dr. Phil An 11-month-old girl suffocates while sleeping in the same bed with her parents. (N) 3 p.m. KCBS

The Ellen DeGeneres Show Adam Sandler (“Uncut Gems”); Billy Crudup. (N) 3 p.m. KNBC

The Real Kristin Chenoweth (“Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir”). (N) 3 p.m. KTTV

The Doctors (N) 3 p.m. KCOP

To the Contrary With Bonnie Erbé “The Jessicas Are Turning 30.” (N) 6 p.m. KVCR

Amanpour and Company (N) 11 p.m. KCET; midnight KVCR; 1 a.m. KLCS

The Daily Show With Trevor Noah (N) 11 p.m. Comedy Central

Conan Ron Funches. (N) 11 p.m. TBS

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Michael B. Jordan; Sam Heughan; Lea Michele; Jonathan Groff. (N) 11:34 p.m. KNBC

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (N) 11:35 p.m. KCBS

Jimmy Kimmel Live! 11:35 p.m. KABC

The Late Late Show With James Corden Chance the Rapper guest hosts; Taraji P. Henson; Lil Nas X. (N) 12:37 a.m. KCBS

Late Night With Seth Meyers Adam Schiff; Bowen Yang; Tyler Childers performs. (N) 12:37 a.m. KNBC

Nightline (N) 12:37 a.m. KABC

A Little Late With Lilly Singh Daisy Ridley. (N) 1:38 a.m. KNBC

SPORTS

College Basketball Southern Mississippi visits Texas Tech, 4 p.m. ESPN2

NFL Football The Indianapolis Colts visit the New Orleans Saints, 5 p.m. ESPN

For more sports on TV, see the Sports section.

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“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” began when Noah was trying to parent his extremely stubborn 2-year-old. One day, in desperation, he pulled up a YouTube clip of Fred Rogers. His daughter turned to the screen and was transfixed — listening to Mister Rogers more intently than she had ever, and would ever, listen to her dad. The next day, Noah walked into our office — by which we mean a coffee shop where we could steal WiFi — and said, “Micah, I’ve discovered a warlock who speaks toddler and we need to write about him.”

That was 10 years ago. We had no idea that it would be a full decade until we would see this movie in a theater. That stubborn toddler is now in middle school. Now Micah has a toddler of his own.

When we set out to write a movie about Fred Rogers, we realized fairly quickly that he was not an ideal subject for a conventional biopic. Honestly, he was too unwavering, too steady, too emotionally healthy. An amazing human being does not necessarily make an amazing movie.

But Fred involved himself in the lives of the people around him. He was compulsively intimate, an emotional archaeologist, and a Presbyterian minister. There were dozens of stories of people who found Fred at a low point in their life — and he helped them put the pieces back together. Tim Madigan, François Clemmons, Benjamin Wagner and, of course, Tom Junod.

We settled on our story. After a brutal negotiation, we hired ourselves to write the first draft for zero dollars. We wanted the movie to feel like an episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” for grown-ups, about a journalist on assignment to profile Fred Rogers. We sent it to producers Youree Henley, Leah Holzer and Peter Saraf, who helped bring a director on board. It was a dream scenario. The only problem was that we didn’t have the rights.

So we all went to Pittsburgh, Fred’s home base, and sat down with Bill Isler, who ran Fred’s company for decades. He shook our hands, smiled and said that he was happy to hear what we were thinking, but that there would never, ever be a Fred Rogers movie.

We left Pittsburgh empty-handed but we didn’t give up. We stayed in contact with Bill. We begged, we cajoled, we embarrassed ourselves. And finally, he agreed. Not to give us the rights. No, he wasn’t ready to do that yet. He agreed to let us return to Pennsylvania and meet Joanne Rogers, Fred’s widow.

She was generous with her time and spirit and answered, honestly, every question we asked. That day, for whatever reason, she agreed to trust us with her husband’s legacy. She had only one demand — that we not portray Fred as a saint. He was a real human, who struggled like we all do. His life of listening and helping others was a practice, and he worked at it every day. To think otherwise meant that his way of life was unattainable.

From there, Bill and Joanne gave us access to the Fred Rogers Archive at St. Vincent’s College in Latrobe, Pa. If we were ever going to make a Fred Rogers movie, we needed to get closer to the man himself.

It was in the archive that we found a box labeled “Tom Junod.” We knew that Tom got to know Fred over the course of writing his profile. We didn’t know that their relationship extended for many years. In the 200-plus letters they exchanged, we realized what our movie must be.

We wrote up a quick and dirty outline and sent it to Bill and Joanne. They gave us the thumbs-up. We reworked the script until we thought it was ready to go … and then we lost our directors!

We had worked with Marielle Heller on “Transparent” and deeply loved her two features. We sent her the script. We got lucky. She came on and asked us who our ideal actor was to play Fred. Sheepishly, we said Tom Hanks. We had sent him the script before and he passed, but Marielle said, “Let me give it a shot.” She sent him the script. They spoke. As you do. To Tom Hanks.

And then, Tom Hanks was in our movie, and we lost our minds.

Ten years later, Fred has become part of our lives, not merely as the subject of our movie but a guide along the way. He helped us to be better fathers to our children. He taught us how to slow down, and be kind to others and ourselves.

But perhaps more than anything, Fred has served as a rare beacon of light in a dark time. An antiseptic for cynicism. A role model when there aren’t many to go around these days. We never expected this film to take as long as it did to come to fruition. We thought we were waiting for this moment. Maybe this moment was waiting for Fred Rogers.

SEATTLE — 

Boeing may cut production of the grounded 737 Max jet or temporarily stop making it after being told that its timetable for a return to the skies was not realistic, according to a published report Sunday.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Boeing’s board would consider the moves at a meeting that began Sunday and would run into Monday. The newspaper, citing people it did not identify, said management is increasingly seeing production cuts as a viable option.

Boeing wouldn’t comment to the Associated Press on Sunday night, but the company repeated a previous statement that it continues to work with the Federal Aviation Administration and global regulators on the Max, which was grounded in March after deadly crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed 346 people.

“We will continue to assess production decisions based on the timing and conditions of return to service, which will be based on regulatory approvals,” the statement said.

The report came just days after a senior FAA official told legislators that Boeing is pushing for an unrealistically quick return of the Max and that there is a perception the company is pressuring the regulator.

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In an email Thursday to key congressional committees, Philip Newman, FAA assistant administrator for government and industry affairs, said Administrator Stephen Dickson “is concerned that Boeing continues to pursue a return-to-service schedule that is not realistic” because of various delays. Newman wrote that Dickson is clear that FAA and Boeing “must take the time to get this process right.”

The grounding of the Max is costing Boeing and airlines billions. Boeing has been eager to signal that the plane could soon fly again. Recently, the company said it expected the FAA to permit shipments of new Max jets in December and approval of a pilot-training program for airlines in January.

Boeing is waiting for the FAA and other regulators to sign off on changes to flight control software that was a major factor in the two crashes.

Boeing said in October that production cuts may be needed if a decision on letting the plane fly again is delayed into next year.

Production cuts could result in layoffs at the plant near Seattle that could help Boeing control its expenses as it waits for the FAA and other regulators to let the Max back into the air. Companies that supply parts to the plane also may have to cut production.

I’m Business columnist David Lazarus, with a look today at pricey smartphones.

Ever since the cost of a new iPhone topped $1,000, I suspect more than a few consumers wondered, “Who pays that much for a friggin’ phone?”

The answer: Not many people, at least on a nationwide basis, according to a new study from market researcher NPD Group. It reveals that fewer than 10% of consumers are willing to shell out that much.

“Consumers are holding onto their smartphones for longer periods, which has presented a challenge for the smartphone market,” said Brad Akyuz, an NPD analyst. “Manufacturers and carriers are expecting 5G to help reinvigorate the upgrade cycle, but pricing could present another hurdle.”

That bit there about superfast 5G wireless technology “reinvigorating the upgrade cycle” — we’ll get back to that in a moment.

First, NPD appears to have confirmed something many of us already figured out on our own: a thousand bucks is too much for a phone. Sure the latest and greatest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy may have sufficient bells and whistles to justify a higher price point.

But few of us are willing to splurge fat stacks for a little extra functionality or a slightly slicker design, not when a phone costing hundreds of dollars less can do pretty much everything the fancier handset can do.

That said, the Southland is particularly fertile ground for any gadget maker seeking status-conscious, price-be-damned buyers. NPD found that consumers in Los Angeles and New York “are most likely to purchase smartphones at the $1,000 price point.”

The wireless industry has a lot riding on the current transition to 5G networks. Yes, 5G lives up to the hype — it’s much faster and more reliable than current wireless technology. AT&T last week started offering 5G service in L.A., San Diego, San Francisco and a few other cities.

But to enjoy those benefits, you’ll have to purchase a state-of-the-art 5G handset. All non-5G phones now in circulation won’t be able to connect to the new networks.

Apple, Samsung and other phone makers are hoping this massive system upgrade will result in massive handset sales, and it almost certainly will. AT&T is offering the $1,300 Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G.

However, if the NPD report is correct — and I think it is — most of us will hesitate before purchasing a 5G phone costing more than eight or nine visits to Disneyland.

That is, until L.A. and New York residents decide they can’t get over their envy of people with too-cool $1,300 phones and decide they desperately need one as well.

Now then, here are a couple of recent stories from our pages worth highlighting:

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Hydrogen power: As Los Angeles weans itself off the last of its coal-generated electricity, the city needs to replace that fuel with a climate-polluting natural gas plant in Utah, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power staff insisted last week. But they also pledged the facility would eventually burn renewable hydrogen instead of natural gas — something that has never been done before.

See-ment pond: Some know it as “The Beverly Hillbillies” mansion, others as Chartwell. Now, it has a new name: California’s chart-topper. The Bel-Air residence of late media mogul A. Jerrold Perenchio has sold for the highest price in California history, about $150 million. The buyer is Lachlan Murdoch, son of Rupert Murdoch and co-chairman of publishing company News Corp.

Recalls

California’s Salinas Valley is grappling with a new outbreak of E. coli contamination linked to packaged salads. This time, Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp salads were the “likely source” of contamination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At least eight people in Upper Midwest states and 16 in Canada have been sickened.

Toyota announced plans to recall 3,800 2019 Prius hybrids after discovering an electrical glitch that could cause the speedometer to malfunction. The defect, which involves an electrical short circuit, could cause the speedometer and the fuel gauge “to become inoperative,” Toyota said.

Spare change

In anticipation of a bright, shiny 5G world, some tunes about phone calls — and there are lots to choose from. Blondie has a winner. So do the Marvelettes and Stevie Wonder. I was thinking at the outset that the top of the heap had to be this classic from Electric Light Orchestra. But then I remembered the Big Bopper, and that was that.

Let me know what you think of the newsletter. My email is [email protected], or you can find me on Twitter @Davidlaz. Also, tell all your social media pals to join the party.

Until next time, see you in the Business section.

Former Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander has put his La Jolla beach home back on the market at $17.75 million. That’s up from the $16.4 million he was asking in 2017. Two years before that, the billionaire had the property for sale at $15.9 million.

The imposing three-story contemporary, built in 2002, overlooks 50 feet of oceanfront. Walls of glass move away to bring ocean breezes into the 9,320 square feet of interiors. An expansive viewing deck extends the living space outdoors.

In addition to the main kitchen, there’s a recreation and game room with its own kitchen, bar and two fireplaces. The laundry room features a pet shower.

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The master suite takes up the entire top floor for a total of three bedrooms and six bathrooms.

The beach-access property also has an attached three-car garage.

Alexander bought the NBA team in 1993 for $85 million and sold it two years ago for $2.2 billion.

Greg Noonan and Maxine Gellens of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties are the listing agents.

My therapist tells me that with dating, it’s important to be yourself. But I’m not my biggest fan. So in an effort to break first date jitters, I took a huge hit from my new weed pen. I instantly started coughing. Looking back now, I wonder if it was an omen.

When it comes to marijuana, I am your basic L.A. gal — I shop at MedMen (a reliable chain that feels like an Apple Store), and I buy goods with cute packaging. I’ve never taken a hit from a bong, and don’t ask me to roll you a joint, because I don’t know how.

The perfect high for me is barely being high at all — just enough to relax my anxiety. I usually just use it to help me fall asleep.

I was supposed to be meeting Brad from Bumble and we were going to hike Los Liones Trail.

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But within minutes of taking that hit to settle my nerves, my eyes felt like they were sealing shut. I tried to drink some water to calm myself down, but I could feel the water trickling down my throat ever so intensely. My thought process was, for the most part, the words “too high” over and over again.

I’m naturally an anxious person but anxious and high? Not the best way to hike a mountain with a stranger.

I checked Bumble for any messages.

“I’m running about 10 minutes late,” he said.

Thank God.

I had a little time to stall.

I did not have enough data service to respond. So after a few minutes of focusing on my breathing, I walked to the trailhead to wait for him. Hopefully he’d just recognize me when he walked up. After about 20 minutes, there was still no sign of him. What if he couldn’t find me and thought that I had bailed?

I checked the app again. He’d sent a message! He was lost and sent over his phone number. At this point, I thought, should I just leave? No. I may fit most Angeleno stereotypes, but I am not a flake. I tried to text him, but my service still wasn’t working.

This situation would have been stressful enough without the exciting addition of being mesmerized by my hands. Had I ever really looked at my hands before? I mean, really looked at them…

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The best option was to go and find him, I thought, so I walked back across the parking lot to another nearby trailhead, in case he’d gone there by mistake.

I can do this. I CAN do this, I told myself. I tried calling him. Yes! Ringing! He answered, and as he answered, I realized he was pulling up next to me in his car.

“Hi!” he said.

“I’m so glad I found you!” I said. Did I sound too excited? Can he tell that I’m high? I’m still so high.

“I’ll meet you at the trailhead,” I said and immediately walked off, allowing him to find parking (and giving me a few extra moments to practice blinking at a normal pace).

And then we got to hiking.

The best part about hiking dates is that any silences are usually covered up by heavy (nonsexual) breathing. I walked in front of him for the majority of the time, making little effort to be good at talking. I just focused on the surface level stuff — his job, my job, what shows we liked, siblings, etc. It was boring, but it was a steady conversation that I was proud of.

I only let us spend a couple minutes at the top. My only goal was to get through this hike — there was no time for flirting.

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On the way down from our hike, there was a small turn off with vines and branches that bent their way into looking like a tunnel. “Look at this,” he said, going inside. “This is cool.” I almost followed him. Almost. But as my foot crossed the first branch, I began to wonder about his intentions. A tunnel? In the woods? Off the main trail? With no one else around? Was he trying to … Fear seized me: No way was I going in there. I planted my feet in the earth with no intentions of moving. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool,” I offered.

We made our way back to the main trail. “I love things like that,” he said. Ugh. Me too. If I weren’t so high. I nodded, trying to seem as normal as possible without displaying any awareness of the distance I had just created, and internally berating myself for it. This guy liked trees. The real me is giddy about trees. The real me wanted to get excited with him by finding a natural tree tunnel on a hike. But the real me had also decided that in order to not be nervous on this date, she needed to get high.

I dread dating for this reason: I’ll do anything I can to “act normal,” yet the most normal version of me is miles away. How am I supposed to be in a relationship if I can’t even be myself?

When we got back to the parking lot, he gave me a good-bye hug. “It was nice meeting you,” he said. “Maybe we can do this again sometime?” “Yeah, that sounds great,” I said, trying not to act too shocked. I avoided direct eye contact with him as I turned and headed home.

He was being, at best, polite.

He never texted me, and I didn’t wait for him to.

I haven’t gotten much better at dating, but I have decided that smoking weed is best done while lying on the living room floor, and not a plan (or person) in sight.

The author is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. She is on Twitter at @lemongella

Straight, gay, bisexual, transgender or nonbinary: L.A. Affairs chronicles the search for love in and around Los Angeles — and we want to hear your story. You must allow your name to be published, and the story you tell has to be true. We pay $300 for each essay we publish. Email us at [email protected]. You can find submission guidelines here.

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PADADA, Philippines — 

Rescuers pulled out two bodies Monday from a three-story building that collapsed in a strong earthquake in the southern Philippines and scrambled to find at least seven more people who were trapped inside.

Army troops, police, firefighters and volunteers, armed with sound and motion detectors, located a third body in the rubble of the building in Davao del Sur province’s Padada town but could not immediately extricate the remains pinned in slabs of cement, Padada Mayor Pedro Caminero said.

At least five people died in Sunday’s magnitude 6.9 quake that struck Padada and outlying rural towns, cities and provinces in a region that has been battered by three deadly earthquakes in recent months. A child died after being hit by a collapsed wall in her house and a woman in her 70s died from a heart attack during the quake, officials said.

“We’re looking for about seven more,” Caminero said by phone from Padada.

Distraught relatives waited in a cordoned-off area as rescuers worked overnight in search of their relatives.

Several shoppers managed to dash out of the building, which housed a grocery store, as the ground shook, including a number who were escorted out with injuries.

A total of 84 people were injured in the quake, officials said.

A city and four towns near the quake’s epicenter were still without power Monday, and classes were canceled in a broad area to give time for inspections of school buildings.

The Davao region has been hit by at least three powerful earthquakes in recent months, causing several deaths and scores of injuries and badly damaging houses, town halls, hotels, malls and hospitals.

The Philippine archipelago lies on the so-called Ring of Fire, an arc of faults around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes occur. It’s also lashed by about 20 typhoons and other severe storms each year, making the Southeast Asian nation of more than 100 million people one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.

TOKYO — 

A Tokyo court sentenced a former senior government official to six years in prison on Monday for fatally stabbing his socially reclusive son with a kitchen knife.

The Tokyo District Court found Hideaki Kumazawa, 76, a former vice minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, guilty of repeatedly stabbing his son Eiichiro, then 44, in the neck and chest at his home in Tokyo in June. The son died from massive blood loss.

Kumazawa, who immediately called police and admitted to the killing, pleaded guilty to the crime during the trial.

In the closing court session on Friday, Kumazawa said, “It is my duty to pay for the crime and pray for my son so he can [have] a peaceful time in his afterlife.”

His son had a developmental disorder and was routinely violent toward his mother. He was removed from his parents and lived alone in an apartment until he returned home a week before the killing. The court said in its ruling that the son resumed his violence as soon as he returned home and threatened to kill his father.

Defense lawyers had sought a suspended term, saying Kumazawa had long supported his son despite his violence toward his mother, and that Kumazawa killed him in self-defense after the son’s threat.

They also said that Kumazawa feared his son might harm others as in a case days earlier, when a man described a social recluse — known in Japan as hikikomori — stabbed a number of schoolchildren at a bus stop outside Tokyo, killing two people and wounding 17 others, mostly schoolgirls, before killing himself.

Judge Tomoyuki Nakayama said the son’s body had more than 30 stab wounds, including some that were very deep, indicating that the killing was not purely self-defense.

Prosecutors sought an eight-year prison term. The court ruled that Kumazawa deserved a more lenient six years in prison, taking into consideration his effort to improve his family’s relations with the son, the violence inflicted by his son and the threat of being killed.

The case and the earlier attack in Kawasaki highlighted growing concerns about hikikomori. A government survey in March showed there are an estimated 610,000 hikikomori between the ages of 40 to 64 in Japan, mostly men, with many still taken care of by their elderly parents without proper support from the outside.

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Here are the stories you shouldn’t miss today:

TOP STORIES

The Long and Short of a Senate Trial

As the House prepares to vote to impeach President Trump, most likely on Wednesday, Senate leaders have begun fighting over which witnesses each party might call in a trial — or whether to call witnesses at all.

On the Democratic side, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer is urging that several senior Trump aides be summoned, including acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security advisor John Bolton. At the same time, Democrats want to avoid having the trial devolve into a venue for airing Trump’s attacks against former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

On the Republican side, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said there was “no chance” Trump would be convicted and that he was coordinating with the president’s lawyers on ground rules. Sen. Lindsey Graham said he had already made up his mind to acquit, so the trial should be short. But other Republicans have indicated they would like a lengthier process.

Bloomberg’s Blitz

Turn on a TV in Southern California these days, and there he is: Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire running for the Democratic presidential nomination. In the L.A. media market alone, he’s already spent more than $5.4 million on broadcast TV ads. Rather than focusing on states such as Iowa or New Hampshire, Bloomberg’s advertising blitz is going after California, the 13 other states with contests on Super Tuesday and more than a dozen that vote later in March.

More Politics

— Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a freshman Democrat from New Jersey, reportedly plans to vote against impeaching Trump and will become a Republican.

— Under the Trump administration’s Remain in Mexico protocols, only 11 cases — or 0.1% of all completed cases — resulted in asylum being granted, records show.

— All seven of the Democratic presidential candidates who have qualified for Thursday’s scheduled debate in Los Angeles have threatened to skip the event to express support for union workers involved in a contract dispute at Loyola Marymount University.

Taiwan’s Fight Against Election Meddling

Ahead of next month’s presidential election in Taiwan, the spread of false information via social media has become a primary concern. Scholars say China has targeted the island with a Russian-style disinformation campaign to exploit divisions and undermine democracy. To combat it, Taiwan’s government is relying on private citizens to check facts and promote media literacy.

Full Speed Ahead, but Not All Are Aboard

The California bullet train is over budget and far behind schedule, and after Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was scaling back its ambitions, the Trump administration began trying to claw back $2.5 billion in federal funds spent on the project. That hasn’t stopped the bullet train authority from moving ahead with an aggressive plan to issue its biggest contract in history, much to the consternation of some.

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OUR MUST-READS FROM THE WEEKEND

— The dangers of lithium-ion batteries got little attention from the Coast Guard, despite some red flags before the deadly fire aboard the dive boat Conception.

— Columnist Steve Lopez looks at how L.A.’s homelessness crisis has hit a crossroads with nearly 1,000 deaths on the streets this year.

— Scott Budnick, a producer of the “Hangover” movies who is well known for his criminal justice advocacy, is among those under investigation after helping a teen convicted in a killing.

— Remembering Scott Timberg, whose cultural appetites fueled his career as an author and journalist and led him to question the future of the arts in the internet age. He died last week at 50.

— California now has 1 million solar roofs. Are 1 million batteries next?

— How Grammy-nominated singer and rapper Lizzo stole the show.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

On this date in 1940, the first major storm of winter stopped traffic in Gorman on what was then called the Ridge Route between Los Angeles and Kern counties. “Occupants of an estimated 500 automobiles and trucks stalled on the Ridge Route thumped themselves to keep warm while highway crews spread dirt on ice-coated pavement to permit traffic to move,” The Times reported the next day. The Ridge Route is now Interstate 5.

CALIFORNIA

— Scuffles broke out during a Glendale town hall event on Armenian genocide that was attended by Rep. Adam B. Schiff, who is at the center of the effort to impeach Trump. As Schiff began speaking, about a dozen people began yelling at him; they removed their jackets, revealing shirts supporting Trump.

— Tributes have been pouring in for Tim Staples, a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department search and rescue team volunteer who died on the treacherous slopes of Mt. Baldy while taking part in a massive search for a missing hiker.

— Southern Californians of Vietnamese descent have been rallying outside the Chinese consulate in L.A. behind the Hong Kong protesters who are pushing for democracy.

— Burbank Unified school officials removed a mural of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi from a campus during the same week she denounced genocide charges levied against her country’s military.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS

— Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy discusses her plans for “Star Wars” and more after the film “The Rise of Skywalker” and the Baby Yoda phenomenon.

— After years of supporting roles or shared leads, Regina King is the undisputed star of “Watchmen,” the first major superhero drama on TV to star an African American woman.

— The Hallmark Channel has reversed its ban on advertisements featuring same-sex couples and apologized for pulling them.

— Actress Anna Karina, who died Saturday in Paris at age 79, more than Jean-Luc Godard’s muse; she helped define the French New Wave.

NATION-WORLD

— The promise of reparations to atone for historical ties to slavery has opened new territory in a reckoning at U.S. colleges, which until now have responded with monuments, building name changes and public apologies.

— Marathon United Nations climate talks have ended with a slim compromise that sparked widespread disappointment.

— British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he is set to begin “before Christmas” the push to secure parliamentary approval for his Brexit deal.

— In Spain, sex workers are fighting for union rights, leaving some feminists conflicted.

BUSINESS

— Louisiana’s gator farmers are getting ornery as California’s ban on alligator-skin boots and purses finally goes into effect.

— If you still have money in a flexible spending account, here are some tips for spending it before year’s end.

SPORTS

— The Rams’ playoff aspirations suffered a devastating blow in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

— LeBron James put on a show as the Lakers beat the Atlanta Hawks to extend their winning streak to seven games.

OPINION

— Presidential candidates rarely discuss California’s issues. They should try at the next debate, writes columnist George Skelton.

— As an emergency room doctor, Steven Sainsbury saw how often guns kill. Leave firearms off your holiday shopping list.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

— How coerced labor in Xinjiang, China, “touches almost every part of the supply chain.” (Foreign Policy)

— Tucker Carlson: “I’ve made a complete break mentally with the world I used to live in.” (The Atlantic)

— “The 50 best comedy sketches of the decade”: Agree or disagree? (Vulture)

ONLY IN L.A.

Porto’s potato balls, guava-and-cheese strudel and Cuban cakes and pastries have become the stuff of L.A. legend. But do you know the story of how they began? Much of it revolves around Rosa Porto, who lost her job and saw her husband sent to a labor camp when Fidel Castro took power in Cuba. The couple would eventually leave and settle in L.A., where Rosa baked and sold cakes for neighbors and fellow Cuban immigrants. Last week, the bakery and cafe’s matriarch died at 89.

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SEOUL — 

A senior U.S. diplomat said Monday that Washington won’t accept a year-end deadline set by North Korea to make concessions in stalled nuclear talks and urged Pyongyang to return to the negotiating table immediately.

“On this point, let me be absolutely clear: The United States does not have a deadline,” Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special representative for North Korea, told reporters. “We are fully aware of the strong potential for North Korea to conduct a major provocation in the days ahead. To say the least, such an action will be most unhelpful in achieving lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.”

Biegun, who was in Seoul for talks with South Korean officials, called on North Korea to sit down for talks.

“Let me speak directly to our counterparts in North Korea: It is time for us to do our jobs. Let’s get this done. We are here. And you know how to reach us,” he said.

Biegun later held separate meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul, Seoul’s point man on North Korea. Moon’s office said that during his visit to the presidential Blue House, Biegun said the Trump administration wouldn’t give up on seeking diplomatic progress with North Korea, but it did not elaborate further.

It’s unclear if North Korea will reach out to the U.S. to resolve their widening differences on how to achieve North Korean denuclearization.

Senior North Korean officials have recently said denuclearization is already off the negotiating table and have threatened to lift a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests. In past months, North Korea has also conducted a slew of short-range missile and other weapons tests.

Worries about a major North Korean provocation grew after the country said Saturday that it had successfully performed an unspecified “crucial test” that will strengthen its nuclear deterrent. Experts say the North could launch a satellite-carrying rocket or an intercontinental ballistic missile if the U.S. fails to meet the year-end deadline.

Friday’s test was the second in a week at a rocket facility where North Korea has conducted missile-engine tests and launched satellites in what the U.N. called cover for testing its long-range missile technology.

North Korea’s military chief, Pak Jong Chon, asserted Saturday that the North has built up “tremendous power” and that the findings from the recent tests would be used to develop new weapons to allow the country to “definitely and reliably” counter U.S. nuclear threats.

The test flight of an ICBM would likely completely derail diplomatic efforts as President Trump has viewed the North Korean weapons test moratorium as a major foreign policy achievement.

Biegun called the latest North Korean statements “so hostile and negative and so unnecessary.” He said they don’t reflect the spirit and content of the discussions the two countries have had since the North entered talks with the U.S. last year.

He said the United States has offered “any number of creative ways to proceed with feasible steps and flexibility in our negotiations to reach balanced agreements that meet the objectives of both sides.”

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