California to continue business with Walgreens

Good morning. It’s Friday, and we’re reading about how California’s next superbloom is expected to be visible from space. Here are the five (other) USC, Los Angeles and California stories you need to know for today.

California is bound by federal law to continue doing business with Walgreens through its Medicaid program, despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s headline-grabbing tweets last month in which he said the state would cease its contracts with the pharmacy giant because it won’t distribute abortion pills in states that threatened legal action. “Tweeting is not policy,” a Newsom spokesperson said.

Samantha Young / Kaiser Health News

The city of LA sued a local journalist and activist group over the online publication of pictures of undercover police officers. Attorneys for the city said the release of the images — part of a public records request — was inadvertent, and endangered its officers. But media and press rights experts have said the suit holds little legal merit.

Staff / Los Angeles Times

Experts say an antibiotic-resistant bacteria found for the first time in LA County poses great health risks, especially for immunocompromised people. The bacteria contains a gene that colistin, a “last resort” antibiotic used for serious infections that cannot be treated with penicillin, has proved ineffective against.

Vivian Chow / KTLA

Marijuana burglaries and thefts more than doubled in California counties between 2021 and 2022, LA County being the hardest hit. Dispensary owners say that 70% of cannabis businesses are unbanked — bigger banks often don’t want to work with dispensaries — effectively putting a target on the backs of the cash-only storefronts.

Liz Lindqwister / The San Francisco Standard

Rapper Denzel Curry will headline Friday night’s Springfest Concert at USC. The South Florida native is most famous for his 2015 song “Ultimate,” the soundtrack of the bottle flipping craze; we’re glad that one’s over. The concert will also feature a slate of student performers as well as Toro y Moi and Devon Again.

Staff / Annenberg Radio News

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.

Subscribe | Unsubscribe