Buddhist shrine to open on campus
Matthew Royer & Tomo Chien
January 22, 2025
Good morning. It’s Wednesday, and we’ve gotten a kick out of this prank student government candidate. Onto the five USC, Los Angeles, and California stories you need to know for today.
1.
A new Buddhist shrine will open in the University Religious Center on Feb. 21. The room, which will only display deities present in all sects of the religion, is meant to give Buddhist students “visibility” and a place to pray on campus, according to the student government senator who spearheaded the project.
2.
They’ve been hard to miss: Dudes schlepping around campus (and even the 9-0) in hulking Doritos bag costumes. Turns out they’re promoting the USC student-made Doritos ad that could air during the Super Bowl — if enough people vote for them. Vote for “Barbershop” here.
3.
Finally: Rain has entered the forecast. Light rainfall starting Saturday is expected to break a record dry spell in the region, though meteorologists said it may do little to snuff out the Palisades and Eaton blazes. Still, Mayor Karen Bass warned of potential mudslides.
4.
The LA Times polled chefs about their biggest hopes for the restaurant industry this year. One guy’s ask: Stop cooking food just to look good on TikTok. Thomas Ortega, owner of Amor y Tacos, just misses “the days before we lost to … people smashing their faces full while sitting in the driver’s seat of their cars while videoing themselves.”
5.
A star-studded lineup with the likes of Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and Green Day will headline a “FireAid” benefit concert at the Intuit Dome and KIA Forum next Thursday. Tickets go live noon today. Separately: USC opened applications for its wildfire relief grants.