Inter-family feud led to Tulare County murders

Good morning, I hope you had a good weekend and are able to brace yourself for the chilly weather this week. Here are the five USC, Los Angeles and California stories you need to know for today.

An inter-family feud led to the Tulare County murders that left six dead, including a 16-year-old girl and her infant son. The family of one of the accused shooters had a long history of violence with the family of the victims, and both had ties to California gangs — but not the Mexican cartel, as the county sheriff had originally posited.

Matthew Ormseth / Los Angeles Times

Ironically, January’s heavy rain across the state could actually lead to an increase in wildfires come summer: The small plants and grasses that sprouted up after the showers will all dry out quickly, leaving the landscape covered in kindling. The heavy rains also impeded prescribed burn efforts.

Gabrielle Canon / The Guardian

California’s U.S. Senate race is shaping up to be one of the most expensive of the 2024 primary election as Democratic heavyweights Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter jostle for early positioning. It’s all a little awkward, though, as 89-year-old Sen. Diane Feinstein is yet to formally announce whether she’s going to seek reelection.

Michael R. Blood / Associated Press

Rising prices have left some SoCalGas customers footing bills in the neighborhood of $500 dollars a month, something particularly hard for seniors living on fixed social security checks to cover. In December, the utility pointed to increases in the price of wholesale gas, noting that the company isn’t profiting from the inflated bills.

Dennic McCarthy / Los Angeles Daily News

A proposed California bill could allow local governments to legalize “cannabis cafes” — cannabis businesses that also serve food and nonalcoholic drinks, which is currently illegal under state law. Proponents of the bill say it could help struggling legitimate marijuana businesses compete with the illegal market.

Sophia Bollag / San Francisco Chronicle

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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