Good morning. It’s Wednesday, and these are the five USC, Los Angeles, and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

A USC freshman had to have one of his eyes removed after federal agent shot him with a projectile at a “No Kings” protest last month. Tucker Collins, 18, was photographing the downtown demonstration and plans to file a federal civil rights lawsuit, his attorney told the LA Times.

2.

A gender empowerment group worked with the Lyon Center to establish a designated “comfortable, supportive environment for women and non-binary” students, the Daily Trojan reported. The special gym room, open Monday and Wednesday mornings, is technically “open to all eligible individuals.”

3.

SDA Dean Emily Roxworthy agreed to meet with a group of students who’ve staged multiple protests against budget cuts that they say have hobbled dramatic arts programming, the Daily Trojan reported. “We cannot continue to be exploited,” said one sign at the students’ five-hour sit-in at the Wolf Drama Center yesterday.

4.

Earlier this year, Olympic organizers promised a locals-only ticket drop that’d give Angelenos a fair shot at seeing the 2028 games in their city. But when the presale opened last week, residents reported seeing few tickets, many at astronomical prices. An LA Times columnist likened it to being “locked out of a party … in your own backyard.”

5.

Before Bryan Cranston was a TV icon known for his starring role in “Breaking Bad,” he nearly joined the LAPD, he told the Wall Street Journal in a fascinating interview. The San Fernando Valley native and his co-stars are on a press blitz for a reboot of “Malcolm in the Middle,” which premieres Friday on Hulu.

Morning, Trojan was featured in Poynter, a major journalism trade publication. Check out the profile.