Good morning, we hope you’ve had a good first week of school. Onto the five USC, Los Angeles and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

A significant heatwave is expected to slam Southern California this weekend, just days after Tropical Storm Hilary drenched parts of the region in nearly a foot of rain. The National Weather Service forecasts that inland communities will receive the highest temperatures, with highs forecast up to 109 degrees.

2.

USC football will take to the Coliseum Saturday evening for its season opener against San Jose State, kicking off the second season of the Lincoln Riley era for the No. 6 ranked Trojans. All eyes will no doubt be on the cast of transfers and freshmen supporting the Heisman-winning Caleb Williams’ encore — a cast that’ll determine the championship quality of the team.

3.

Officials identified the shooter who killed three and injured six at a Trabuco Canyon biker bar as 59-year-old John Snowling, a retired sergeant from the Ventura Police Department. Snowling appeared to target his estranged wife, Marie Snowling, who was dining at the bar; he struck her once in the jaw but she survived.

4.

Adding to a seemingly never-ending drama, a California judge Thursday rejected an environmental group’s request to stop the state from extending the life of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. The power plant, which produces 9% of the state’s electricity, was previously supposed to shutter by 2025 — until Gov. Gavin Newsom supported an effort to extend its life, to the dismay of safety-minded environmentalists.

5.

The California High Speed Rail is on its way to becoming a reality after its board of directors cleared the way to screen and choose vendors and manufacturers for the state’s most ambitious transit undertaking yet. The rail service, tentatively planned to open in 2030, would first connect the Central Valley from Merced to Bakersfield, later connecting to LA and the Bay Area.

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

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