Good morning. It’s Monday, and I hope you had a wonderful spring break. Onto the five USC, Los Angeles, and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

A major credit rating agency downgraded USC’s bond outlook, essentially putting the school on notice: If its reportedly lukewarm financial conditions worsen, it could face a lower credit rating — and thus higher interest rates. The stern S&P analysis contradicted a recent report that claimed USC is simply “crying poverty” to justify unpopular budget cuts.

Tomo Chien / Morning, Trojan

2.

A congressional subcommittee asked USC to hand over information about its Chinese international students, framing their involvement in some research programs as a national security issue. The request, which was sent to several universities, seeks general information about Chinese enrollment — not names.

Peter Wilgoren / KTLA

3.

Columbia University agreed to overhaul its protest policies and Middle Eastern studies department after Donald Trump threatened to pull $400 million of its federal funding. The school’s decision was widely viewed as a bellwether for other universities subject to Trump’s pressure campaign, like USC.

Staff / The New York Times

4.

It was a busy week in higher ed. A few more updates: Trump started dismantling the Department of Education. Feds will investigate alleged DEI-related discrimination at three California universities. The University of California banned “diversity statements” in faculty hiring. Feds backed a lawsuit by Jewish students against UCLA, then pro-Palestinian protesters filed their own.

Jaweed Kaleem / Los Angeles Times

5.

Chipotle launched a digital menu featuring the supposed go-to orders of the entire USC women’s basketball team in honor of March Madness. In what is surely a coincidence, star JuJu Watkins is a fan of the chain’s latest widely advertised, limited-edition promotional meat. The Trojans face Mississippi State tonight.

Iman Palm / KTLA