Good morning, it’s Thursday, and we’re reading the Los Angeles Times’ full review of the Sketchers food court we had written about a while ago. Onto the five USC, LA and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

California workers will get a minimum of five paid sick days per year starting January, under a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Workers were previously only guaranteed three. The bill is a win for labor advocates, who just last week lost an effort to give unemployment benefits to striking workers but won a $20 minimum wage for fast food employees. Critics were quick to argue that many small businesses won’t be able to absorb the costs of the new requirement.

2.

More than 75,000 Kaiser Permanente workers took to the picket line Wednesday, initiating the largest healthcare worker strike in U.S. history. Kaiser and union negotiators failed to reach a deal in a marathon bargaining session in San Francisco the day before, but remain in talks. The union represents workers in five states and the District of Columbia, but more than 90% of its members work in California facilities. The strike is expected to end Saturday morning.

3.

LA retail businesses will soon be required to accept cash payments, a departure from pandemic-era policy when many stopped accepting physical currency. The motion passed unanimously through the city council and is now waiting to be written up by the city attorney. Councilmember Heather Hutt cited inclusion and accessibility while introducing the motion, as many senior citizens, low income communities of color, young people and domestic violence survivors often use cash or are unable to access credit and debit cards.

4.

California Republicans lost a vital lifeline when Rep. Kevin McCarthy was ousted from the House speakership. The Bakersfield representative — who strategists described as a “phenomenal fundraiser and phenomenal recruiter” — said he won’t run for the speakership again, leaving his Republican colleagues to gear up for an election without one of their biggest assets.

5.

LA Metro nixed a plan that would’ve armed the police officers who patrol its transit lines with a lasso-type weapon called the BolaWrap. The device, which was approved by the LA Police Commission in August, fires a Kevlar cord meant to allow officers to non-lethally subdue their targets. Metro board members, who’ve previously looked to stop over-policing on the transit lines, called the weapon “a step in the wrong direction.”

You’re all caught up. Thanks for reading Morning, Trojan, and have a good day.

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