Ransomware attack far worse than LAUSD initially admitted

Good morning, I hope you’re staying warm in this decidedly un-Los Angeles weather. And now, onto the five USC, LA and California stories you need to know for today.

Los Angeles Unified School District officials admitted that the scope of a 2022 data leak stemming from a ransomware attack was far broader than initially acknowledged. Thousands of current and former student driver’s license and Social Security numbers — not to mention sensitive psychological evaluations, 60 of which belong to current students — made it to the dark web.

Clara Harter / Los Angeles Daily News

Officials urged Southern Californians to avoid driving through mountain regions, anticipating gusts exceeding 60 mph and whiteout conditions in as much as 2 feet of snow. This week’s blizzard warning in parts of LA is the first such warning on record since the National Weather Service launched its archives in 1983.

Rachel Swan / Los Angeles Daily News

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s polarizing penalty on excessive oil company profits is still languishing in the Legislature months after the governor first proposed the bill. The oil industry, which pours tens of millions of lobbying dollars into the Legislature every year — and provides jobs in many parts of the state — remains a potent political force in the Democratic-controlled chambers.

Adam Beam / Associated Press

Early polling showed Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff in a close race to succeed Sen. Diane Feinstein. Respondents 65 and older tended to favor Schiff, while the under-40 crowd leaned toward Porter. Reps. Barbara Lee and the potentially running Ro Khanna both trailed by significant margins, though nearly half the respondents said they hadn’t made up their minds.

Benjamin Oreskes / Los Angeles Times

Newsom and billionaire Elon Musk appeared to rekindle their bromance in a jovial press conference Wednesday, when Tesla announced it’ll open its new engineering headquarters in Palo Alto — an appearance meant to promote California’s commitment to electric vehicles. The automaker had previously moved some of its operations to Texas when Musk bemoaned California’s high tax rates, business regulations and Democratic hegemony.

Lara Korte and Wes Venteicher / Politico

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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