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By Tomoki Chien

Good morning. Here are the five USC, Los Angeles and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

An effort to recall LA City Councilmember Kevin de León failed to garner enough signatures to put the matter on the ballot. The recall campaign — which sought to oust de León for his role in the racist leaked tape scandal last October — fell 10,000 signatures short of the 20,437 it needed.

Linh Tat / Los Angeles Daily News

2.

Polls close Tuesday in a special election to replace former LA City Councilmember Nury Martinez, who resigned for her role in same scandal that implicated de León. Expect a low turnout: Just 108 people have visited polling centers since they opened a week and a half ago, and the county has received a meager 8,000 absentee ballots.

Dakota Smith / Los Angeles Times

3.

When NASA launches its first crewed mission to the moon for the first time in five decades, an LA County native will pilot the ship. Victor Glover, of Pomona, previously piloted Space X’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, served as a flight engineer on the International Space Station and was a Navy test pilot before becoming an astronaut. The Artemis II mission is set to launch in 2024.

Lucas Combos and Paige Austin / Patch

4.

Masks are no longer required in California healthcare settings, senior care facilities, homeless centers and correctional facilities — effectively phasing out one of the state’s last COVID restrictions. Workers in those same settings are also no longer required to be vaccinated.

Ema Sasic / Palm Springs Desert Sun

5.

USC’s official mariachi band won Songfest, a university competition for student performers dating back to 1954. The competition raises money for Troy Camp, an organization that mentors underprivileged youth in South LA. Eleven groups entered this year’s competition, including those performing dance, a cappella, magic and comedy.

Staff / Annenberg Media

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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