University of Southern California

The Marcus Foundation, established by Bernie and Billi Marcus, donated $28.7 million to Dr. Chuck Murry at USC to advance clinical trials of stem cell-based therapies for regenerating tissue after a heart attack. This gift is noted as the largest donation from The Marcus Foundation to USC. Overall, the foundation maintains a dedicated focus on medical research across various areas including regenerative medicine and cardiovascular disease.

Los Angeles Unified School District faces a projected $231 million cash shortfall by 2027, prompting potential layoffs, furloughs, and school closures. County officials cited declining enrollment, expired pandemic relief funding, rising costs, and new union contracts as key factors, requiring the district to revise its budget plan within 45 days to avoid oversight.

The Ninth Circuit upheld the bribery conviction of veteran Los Angeles politician Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was found guilty of soliciting favors for his son from the University of Southern California in exchange for supporting county contracts. The court ruled that a $100,000 indirect donation to a nonprofit benefiting Ridley-Thomas' son constituted a 'thing of value' under bribery laws.

Waymo is launching its robotaxi service in Denver by the end of the year, following months of supervised testing. The company operates fleets of 300-800 vehicles across 10 cities, offering 500,000 weekly rides, but faces challenges like higher pricing compared to Uber and Lyft, public skepticism, and safety concerns after reporting 1,700 crashes since 2021.

A Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruling struck down New Jersey's AR-15 ban, citing 24 million such rifles in circulation. A lawsuit alleges the University of Southern California removed named recognition for a $400,000 donation from Regency Outdoor Advertising founder Brian Kennedy.

Brandon Gill, a Republican congressman, has gained attention for his viral questioning of DEI policies in House committees. He chairs a task force targeting institutional abuses, while critics argue his approach favors virality over nuanced discussions.

Texas Republican Brandon Gill has gained prominence as a digital communicator in the House GOP, using committee sessions to challenge DEI policies and leftist ideologies. He chairs a task force investigating institutional abuses and has questioned officials from the Smithsonian and the American Bar Association, drawing both praise for exposing progressive policies and criticism for prioritizing viral moments over nuanced debate.

The article profiles Tariq, the Editor-in-Chief of Space.com, detailing his career in space journalism, awards, and contributions to science communication. He has held roles at Space.com since 2001 and received accolades from the National Space Club Florida Committee and National Space Society.

The article profiles Tariq Malik, Editor-in-Chief of Space.com, highlighting his career in space journalism, awards, and contributions to space media. It details his educational background in journalism and astronomy, roles at Space.com since 2001, and co-hosting the This Week In Space podcast.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court removed a rent control ballot initiative due to a technicality about exemptions for religious institutions. Supporters argue the policy stabilizes communities and lowers rents, citing studies and examples in Paris and New York City. Lawmakers are urged to pass legislation allowing local rent stabilization measures.

A study by Rebecca Diamond found that GLP-1 weight-loss drugs may improve women’s job prospects and dating odds. The research, using the Understanding America Study, showed single women who lost weight with GLP-1s saw a 29% rise in marriage/cohabitation and 27% increase in employment rates after 18 months, excluding those using the drugs for diabetes.

Tariq, Editor-in-Chief of Space.com, has covered spaceflight and science since 2001, receiving awards like the Harry Kolcum Award in 2022 and the Space Pioneer Award in 2025. He studied journalism and astronomy, worked at The Los Angeles Times, and joined Space.com as an intern before becoming a full-time reporter in 2004.

MIT researchers have developed a wristband with an ultrasound sticker to capture real-time muscle and tendon movements, enabling precise control of robotic hands and virtual objects. The device uses AI to translate ultrasound images into hand gestures, allowing wireless manipulation of robots for tasks like playing piano or shooting basketball.

The University of Southern California business school dean has been moved to an advisory role near the school's president amid staff opposition. The transition occurred quietly despite criticism of the dean.

Adjunct and non-tenure-track faculty at the University of Southern California (USC) have voted to unionize with the United Auto Workers (UAW), marking a significant development in California's campus labor movement. However, USC has announced its intention to challenge the unionization outcome.

Adjunct and non-tenure-track faculty at USC voted to unionize with the UAW, marking a significant development in California's campus labor movement. The university announced plans to challenge the unionization result.

USC professor Steve Swerdlow, a Central Asia researcher, was denied entry to Kyrgyzstan and deported while leading a group of 16 students. The Kyrgyz Republic reportedly closed its entry to him, though specific reasons were not detailed.

A massive data breach hit the Instructure Canvas learning system, affecting colleges across California and the nation, including UC, CSU, USC, Stanford, and Los Angeles community colleges. The breach was claimed by a criminal group called ShinyHunters. This incident has crippled student work.

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.

AI is reducing writing and speaking diversity by promoting standardized language, with studies showing a decline in style variation after ChatGPT's release. Experts criticize AI-generated content as 'soulless' and warn it erodes authentic expression, while its adoption in business and communication grows.

Tucker Collins, an 18-year-old USC student, lost an eye after being shot by a Department of Homeland Security agent with a less-lethal projectile during a No Kings march in Los Angeles. His attorney alleges the incident constitutes an 'overt act of repression' by homeland security agents against protesters opposing the Trump administration's policies.