Good morning. It’s Friday, and I’m looking at these beautiful homes in the quirky Carmel-by-the-Sea. Onto the five USC, Los Angeles, and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

Some $10.6 million in federal research grants to USC were identified as supporting “neo-Marxist class warfare propaganda” by a Republican-led Senate report. Except some projects have nothing to do with DEI, much less class warfare. One project, for instance, is studying millimeter-wave systems for use in satellite communications.

Christina Chkarboul and Nathan Elias / Daily Trojan

2.

Reported crimes on campus have plummeted by 42% this school year, DPS data shows. A department spokesperson claimed (entirely on the basis of correlation) that the drop is due to the school’s largely unpopular security checkpoints. Students remain unconvinced. “It feels kind of dingy,” one junior said of the gates.

Aubrey Jones / Annenberg Media

3.

In an escalation of the post-wildfire blame game, LA Mayor Karen Bass said she took her infamous trip to Ghana because the city’s fire chief failed to warn her about the alarming forecast before the blazes broke out. Notably, the National Weather Service was blaring “LIFE-THREATENING, DESTRUCTIVE” warnings on X the whole time.

Dakota Smith / Los Angeles Times

4.

A so-called “Uber with guns” service launched in LA this week, which allows users to hire a personal security detachment of active-duty and retired law enforcement officers. For $1,000 plus Protector’s annual $129 member fee, you can get one bald dude in a black Escalade for five hours — and even choose his outfit.

Mia Galuppo / The Hollywood Reporter

5.

Caltrans wants to make the anxiety-inducing Arroyo Seco Parkway slightly safer by widening shoulders, installing crash cushions, and posting more lighting and signs. But it could take years to implement those safety measures, officials cautioned. For further study: Learn why the 110 is so scary.

Makenna Sievertson / LAist