Good morning. It’s Tuesday, and I’m reading about a restaurant boom in an unexpected part of Los Angeles. Onto the five USC, LA and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

USC said it’ll reinstate two scholarships that allow students to take extra classes for free, called the Academic Achievement Award and Exceptional Funding award. It’s the latest in a saga where the university cut the scholarships — in an announcement buried before the spring break, right after jacking tuition by $3,264 — then tried to compromise with thousands of angry students by allowing the programs to run for a few more years, then now seems to have completely walked back its decision. Perhaps now the university can share why tuition almost always outpaces inflation. 

Staff / Daily Trojan

2.

Mayor Karen Bass has succeeded in tackling the most visible parts of LA’s homelessness crisis. Inside Safe, her signature program, has cleared prominent encampments in places like Venice Beach and moved more than 2,100 people into temporary motel rooms. But it’s unclear whether that’ll translate to meaningful progress. Only some 400 of the program’s participants have moved into permanent housing, and about a quarter aren’t participating anymore. And, ultimately, the city can’t keep funding Inside Safe: Motel room rentals will cost the city around $110 million this fiscal year, which is unsustainable as the city looks to make budget cuts. 

Jill Cowan / The New York Times

3.

California restaurants are scrambling to cut costs ahead of a minimum wage hike for fast-food workers that’ll take effect in April. Pizza Hut and Round Table Pizza franchisees plan to lay off some 1,280 delivery drivers. El Pollo Loco is using machines to automate its salsa making. A Cinnabon is turning down offers to expand to new locations. And McDonald’s, Chipotle and Jack in the Box said they plan to raise menu prices. “I can’t charge $20 for Happy Meals. I’m leaving no stones unturned,” said one McDonald’s operator.

Heather Haddon / The Wall Street Journal

4.

Last year, when a Texas lawsuit threatened the nationwide availability of a popular abortion pill, California stockpiled 250,000 doses of the drug’s critical counterpart. Now, the ultra-conservative Supreme Court is finally hearing the case — but California already distributed its entire stockpile because the pills were going to expire. A spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom said he’ll consult with doctors in deciding whether to purchase more pills, and that his decision could hinge on the high court’s oral arguments today: If the justices appear willing to uphold the Texas ban, California will likely resupply its stockpile. 

Sophia Bollag / San Francisco Chronicle

5.

Gov. Newsom has a big problem: He has just three months to cut $38 billion from the state’s budget. Another problem: The lawmakers helping him do that are rookies who’ve never negotiated a state budget, much less one while facing a massive shortfall. To make up for their lack of experience, lawmakers say they’re leaning on mentors and long-time aides who’ve assisted past negotiations. “This is going to be a new experience for almost everybody, including me,” said the recently appointed Assembly budget chair. 

Blake Jones / Politico