Good morning. We’re reading about how a blind woman managed to summit one of the tallest peaks in the Sierras. Also: The San Francisco Chronicle followed up on the property tracker we linked to earlier this week with a report on the state’s biggest landowners. Onto the five USC, Los Angeles and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

A female USC student was allegedly raped by her Lyft driver early Wednesday morning after returning to her apartment near campus from West Hollywood’s Halloween Carnaval. The incident reportedly occurred on the 3600 block of South Grand Avenue at 3 a.m. Police described the suspect as a Black male, approximately 25-35 years old with black hair, a thin build and black-colored beard. No other details were immediately available.

2.

The Highland fire didn’t spread as much as officials feared it would Wednesday, but firefighters are still watching for winds that could fan the wildland blaze through the rest of this week. Cal Fire reported Wednesday evening that the fire was 20% contained, up from 10% the day prior. Seven structures have been confirmed destroyed, and just one firefighter was reported injured.

3.

Three students were hospitalized Wednesday morning after a brawl broke out at Van Nuys High School. Two sustained non-life-threatening stab wounds in the fight that involved at least 11 students, and three were detained by police. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said authorities were still determining what started the fight. The school was placed on lockdown but resumed activities in the afternoon.

4.

A California woman was charged with 63 felony and misdemeanor counts for allegedly hosting alcohol-fueled parties where she encouraged her teenage son and his friends to sexually assault girls in 2020. Shannon Marie O’Connor, who is 49 — and also better known as the “Los Gatos Party Mom” — allegedly bought beer, vodka and whiskey for the 14- and 15-year-olds and encouraged them to drink to the point of unconsciousness. Prosecutors say she not only encouraged sexual assault, but at one point watched and laughed while a drunk boy raped a girl in bed. O’Connor remains in jail without bail.

5.

Shasta County residents are bracing themselves for turmoil in an election next Tuesday. Last spring, the county’s far-right leadership — swept up in voter fraud conspiracies — opted to ditch its voting machines and instead hand-count ballots. In response, Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced legislation limiting counties from hand-counting votes, but county leaders contend the law doesn’t apply to them. Now, the county registrar is refusing to comply with demands from Shasta leadership and is instead forging ahead with a plan to use voting machines in the election — drawing ire from residents and setting the stage for drama on Tuesday.

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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