Good morning, it’s Tuesday, and we’re reading about a group of hikers that got struck by lightning atop Yosemite’s Half Dome. Onto the five USC, Los Angeles and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

California will fine school districts that ban books on the basis of race and sexual orientation under a bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom yesterday that goes into effect immediately. The bill also includes fines for districts that purchase replacement textbooks that don’t align with state anti-discrimination laws. Few other states have passed similar laws that punish book bans with fines; Illinois was the first to do so earlier this year, but in the context of public libraries.

2.

A San Bernardino sheriff’s deputy is under investigation for throwing a 16-year-old, 120-pound girl to the ground, sending her to the hospital with head, back and spine injuries. The sheriff’s department contends that Faith Jeffers, the 16-year-old, reached for the deputy’s pepper ball launcher while he tried to break up a fight at a high school football game. The department also wrote in its report that the deputy “pulled the female away causing her to land on the ground” — a fairly generous take.

3.

LA County pledged to provide 3,000 more beds for mental health and substance use treatment by the end of 2026, potentially settling a 3-year-old lawsuit with a homeless services advocacy group. A federal judge, who has struck down settlements in the case twice before, will review the new agreement Thursday.

4.

A grand jury indicted over a dozen people connected to the Hells Angels biker gang who prosecutors say initiated a vicious and racially motivated attack against three Black men in Ocean Beach in June. One of the victims — who were ages 19, 20 and 21 — was left with a “gaping wound” that exposed his lungs after being beaten up and stabbed in the chest. Another was left unconscious after being punched and kicked all over his body. The 17 defendants pleaded not guilty.

5.

The University of California will offer free online college courses to low-income high school students that can be applied as course credit, much like an Advanced Placement class, in an effort to promote equitable access to higher education. The university system joins the National Education Equity Lab — a nationwide initiative to offer college courses to low-income high schoolers — which includes the likes of Stanford and Howard universities. The program will begin in the winter of 2024.

You’re all caught up. Thanks for reading Morning, Trojan, and have a good day. Anna Hsu copy edited this newsletter

3630 Watt Way, ANN 102, Los Angeles, CA 90089.