Good morning. It’s Monday, and my new hobby is judging the Class of 2029. Onto the five USC, Los Angeles, and California stories you need to know for today.

The newsletter will be off tomorrow.

1.

Federal prosecutors will investigate whether USC has failed to protect Jewish students and faculty from antisemitic incidents since October 2023. Investigators, who are visiting nine other U.S. colleges including UCLA, said they’ll decide whether unspecified “remedial action” is warranted.

Lexi Lonas Cochran / The Hill

2.

USC purchased Hebrew Union College’s 50,000 square-foot campus that sits across the street from the Village. Under the terms of the $34.6 million deal, Hebrew Union will lease back nearly two-thirds of the campus while footing the bill for infrastructure, technology, and natural lighting upgrades.

Staff / The Real Deal

3.

In case you missed it: USC canned its Office of Inclusion and Diversity, merging its staffers with the university’s existing “Culture Team.” It was the latest move by USC to erase explicit references to DEI programs after Morning, Trojan first reported that the school was quietly scrubbing mentions of diversity initiatives from its websites.

Tomo Chien / Morning, Trojan

4.

The LA Fire Department knew for months before the Palisades fire that more than 1,000 fire hydrants needed repairs — but did not share those inspection records with the city. It is unclear if those damaged fire hydrants played a role in the low water pressure that fire crews struggled with while battling the blaze.

Matt Hamilton / Los Angeles Times

5.

Progressive students have been up in arms about Charlie Kirk’s planned visit to USC today at noon. But, junior Dakota Driemeyer argues in a guest essay, Kirk has demonstrated a genuine interest in productive, open debate — something our country needs more of. “Before you throw tomatoes, hear me out,” Driemeyer writes.

Dakota Driemeyer / Morning, Trojan