USC

Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire reported that major programs such as USC, Texas A&M, and NC State have refused to honor non-conference scheduling requests for the Red Raiders. This situation highlights a dispute over strength of schedule metrics, leading criticism regarding how these large schools critique smaller ones for perceived weak schedules. The article suggests this unwillingness to play Tech complicates their ability to criticize the program's scheduling choices.

USC researchers found elevated lead levels in some neighborhoods 19 months after wildfires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades, while most fire-related chemicals in coastal waters returned to normal levels. The study, part of USC's CLEAN project, analyzed over 6,000 soil samples and 900 seawater samples.

The NBA Charlotte Hornets have signed a multi-year contract with Foothills Building Group to feature the company's logo on pregame and halftime warmup apparel. This marks Foothills Building Group's first sports sponsorship, despite their prior experience in sports-related construction projects at Coastal Carolina and USC.

The article highlights that Gen Z college students are highly skilled in AI and capable of producing advanced projects quickly, but they face a challenging job market as companies prioritize AI over hiring entry-level employees. Graduates struggle to secure jobs despite their technical expertise, with layoffs and AI adoption reducing opportunities for new hires.

California’s newly redrawn District 40 is projected to remain a Republican stronghold, with Ken Calvert leading Young Kim in early primary results. The district now includes more Inland Empire communities, and analysts suggest the redistricting strategy aims to consolidate Republican representation in Southern California while allowing Democrats to focus on other districts.

Courts in the US are experiencing a surge in AI-assisted lawsuits filed by self-represented individuals, with a study showing a rise from 11% to 16.8% of federal civil cases between 2022 and 2025. Judge Maritza Braswell notes AI improves pleading clarity but introduces challenges like hallucinations and fabricated quotes, while lawmakers debate accountability for AI-generated legal advice.

Non-tenure-track faculty at USC voted to unionize after over a year of university opposition. Faculty cited issues like stagnant salaries and job insecurity, while USC challenged the unionization as 'managerial' under its governance structure. The National Labor Relations Board initially approved the vote but faced a last-minute university request for review.

USC researchers have identified new drug compounds that target cPLA2, an enzyme linked to brain inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in individuals with the APOE4 gene. The compounds aim to reduce harmful inflammation while preserving normal brain activity.

The University of Southern California (USC) has received a $200 million gift from an Nvidia board member to transform AI education and recruit faculty. This historic gift is one of the largest in USC's history and aims to spread artificial intelligence research across campus. The donation will significantly impact USC's AI research and education.