Good morning, it’s Wednesday, and Metro is offering free rides to celebrate Clean Air Day. Onto the five USC, Los Angeles and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy was ousted from the House speakership by a far-right mutiny, dealing an embarrassing blow to the Bakersfield Republican’s political career and at least temporarily diminishing California’s influence in Washington. Eight hardline Republicans led by Rep. Matt Gaetz — who were ostensibly looking to punish McCarthy for collaborating too often with colleagues across the aisle — joined Democrats to boot the speaker by a 216-210 vote.

2.

Nearly 20,000 student workers in the California State University system will soon decide whether they’ll unionize, potentially becoming one of the largest student worker unions in U.S. history. The students — who work in places like financial aid offices, information technology departments and front desks — count both graduate and undergraduate students among their ranks. They say they’re primarily looking for higher pay, more hours and sick leave. The students currently make state minimum wage and are restricted to 20 hours a week: in fact the same as USC student workers.

3.

USC dining halls will pilot a program to replace their current compostable takeout containers with reusable stainless steel bowls later this month. The pilot is in partnership with USEFULL, a reusable container company, with the hopes of growing to all campus dining options. Students must return the containers — which are made of two layers of stainless, recyclable steel and a biodegradable silicone lid — within 48 hours or risk fines of $1 per day.

4.

California cities could soon be required to cut their water consumption by as much as 20%, regardless of how wet or dry it is, under a work-in-progress state policy. The state could fine violating water agencies as much as $10,000 per day for failing to meet the cuts, though it’ll be up to those agencies to decide how to meet their state-allocated allowance — likely through a mix of traditional conservation encouragement as well as their own fines and requirements of residents.

5.

A “Ring of Fire” solar eclipse will appear throughout California later this month. On Oct. 14 at 9:13 a.m., the moon will pass between the Earth and the sun, causing an orange glow to surround the shadowed moon. Hopeful viewers looking for an optimal experience ought to use eye protection and view the eclipse from along the path of the annularity, though the daytime darkness should be noticeable from most places.

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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