Good morning. It’s Wednesday, and we’re reading a guide to the best French fries in Los Angeles. Onto the five USC, LA and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

The off-duty pilot who attempted to crash a San Francisco-bound flight was having a “mental breakdown,” witnesses said. The pilot, 44-year-old Joseph Emerson, told police that he consumed psychedelic mushrooms 48 hours before the flight and has suffered from depression for a long time. Experts said it’s doubtful that Emerson would’ve still been under the influence two days after consuming the drugs, but the psychedelics could’ve further destabilized an already fragile mental condition.

2.

More than 30 states including California jointly filed a federal lawsuit against Meta, alleging apps like Instagram and Facebook are intentionally addictive and harmful to children’s mental health. The suit accuses the tech giant of violating federal and state online privacy protection laws by tricking users with “false and misleading” claims that the apps are safe for children and not meant to promote unhealthy engagement. If successful, the lawsuit could change how Meta markets its products and result in substantial fines for the corporation.

3.

The California DMV suspended Cruise’s license to operate driverless taxis in San Francisco after the company allegedly withheld footage of a severe crash involving one of its vehicles. The crash occurred after a human driver hit a pedestrian and hurled her into the path of a Cruise taxi. Waymo, a competitor, will still be allowed to operate, but the suspension nonetheless underscores the city’s skepticism of the technology despite increasing public adoption.

4.

Muslim parents in the LA Unified School District said their children felt targeted by a superintendent’s statement that strongly supported Israel and featured a Star of David and Israeli colors. Supt. Alberto Carvalho released a more broad statement condemning violence in general about a week later. Still, at Tuesday’s board meeting, many Muslim parents alleged “one-sided” class discussions and episodes of harassment.

5.

A hiker was rescued after being stuck in a cave east of San Diego for 16 hours over the weekend. The unidentified woman tried to pass through a 12-inch opening before getting stuck. First responders worked overnight to rescue the woman, inching their way through the cave system and slowly passing their gear along. The hiker managed to avoid any severe injuries.

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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