Parents, guests and USC Graduates wait in a security line to enter the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for a graduation celebration ceremony put on by USC.
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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Topline:
It's been a peculiar graduation season for many local university students. Late last month, the University of Southern California cancelled its traditional central graduation ceremony after protests related to the Israel-Hamas War began on campus.
Flashback: Four years ago, many of these same students found themselves without a traditional high school graduation (or college graduation, for graduate students) because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Big feelings: We asked the graduates for some of what's going through their minds. Keep reading for photos from the Trojan Family Graduate Celebration.
It's been a peculiar graduation season for many local university students, but that's not a new experience for them, either.
Four years ago, many found themselves without a traditional high school graduation ceremony (or college ceremony, for graduate students) because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Late last month, the University of Southern California cancelled its traditional central graduation ceremony after protests related to the Israel-Hamas War began on campus. (Each of the university’s individual schools also have their own ceremonies, which remained in place.)
As an alternative, the university added a new event, a "Trojan Family Graduate Celebration," which took place in the L.A. Memorial Coliseum on Thursday night.
LAist attended and asked graduates how they felt to be there.
Interviews were edited for length and clarity.
USC graduate William Zhu
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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William Zhu graduated high school in 2020. He used to have no idea what he'd do, but says he has a lot of career goals now.
"I just feel blessed, after all these protests. We made it, that's the best thing. I'm still excited."
USC graduate Emma Adamson
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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A see-thru case carried by USC graduate Emma Adamson
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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Like so many others, Emma Adamson had a drive-thru high school graduation.
"We drove up with my family in a car to the front of my school, I walked across the stage, got back in my car and drove off, and then we went to Starbucks. So it was very anti-climactic."
She says she tries to take a positive attitude about her USC graduation, since she can't change the circumstances. But it's "very full circle... Honestly, I thought it was kind of funny because it's just so typical for our class. We're just the class of cursed graduations at this point."
But, she says: "Still a Trojan for life."
USC Graduate Cecilia Coronado
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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Cecilia Coronado is a USC graduate student. She's happy that there's a way to celebrate family — "family and support has been a big help."
This is a bittersweet experience but she's trying to find the silver lining. "I want to take a moment to appreciate the accomplishments of all the graduates right now but I can't forget all the ridiculous atrocities happening around the world."
When USC comes asking for a donation, though: "F— no. You guys have all my money already. We get nothing for free. Maybe if — when — when I make it big they might get a little something."
USC Graduate Gabrielle Annon
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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Gabrielle Annon recalled her high school graduation. "It was a YouTube ceremony. So I graduated from my living room. My last name starts with A, and they had some technical difficulties so I never heard my name called."
She says the whole experience this spring has been surreal, but appreciated that USC tried to do something special. "No other class can say they got something like this so I'm excited."
USC Graduate Anusha S.
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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Anusha S. is a USC Annenberg graduate who's staying excited for her departmental graduation ceremony.
She also helped cover the recent campus protests for Annenberg Media. "It was a mix of fear, because I was not sure what was happening and what was going to happen to us."
She says she's disappointed with how the university has handled the situation — "like collective punishment." The last week of getting through classes has been hard: "You have to go through multiple checks, they check your bag, it feels like a violation of privacy," but she can't do anything about it. "It feels like they don't listen to us."
USC Graduate Christopher Luis
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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USC graduate Christopher Luis
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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Christopher Luis gave his high school's valedictorian speech in 2020 over Zoom. "I do feel the physical component that wasn't there, I'm finally getting to enjoy that here."
Luis says he feels like he's in a life-comes-at-you-fast kind of place, but is excited to be here with his family. "USC gave me the opportunity to pursue my higher education and I'm really grateful for that."
"I'd just like to congratulate the class of 2024," he says, adding: "Fight on."
USC graduate Megan Serizawa
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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Megan Serizawa says that for all the turmoil, it's a unique experience. "I'm excited to be here with my family and my boyfriend and share this time with my class."
And unlike her 2020 high school graduation, "at least we all get to be together without masks and stuff."
"It just seems like [USC is] trying to keep the peace so that they get their donations but they should be doing more, like letting our valedictorian speak," she says.
USC Graduate Kelsey Goldbach
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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Kelsey Goldbach has made her peace with what's happened this spring. "I'm just trying to enjoy today, and tomorrow when I actually graduate."
Her high school graduation was a prerecorded slideshow. She sat in her kitchen in her cap and gown with her family. This time, "at least I'm not graduating over a slideshow."
If the university comes asking for money, "to be totally honest, I'm probably not going to give anything, at least until I see some change by the administration."
Matt Dangelantonio
directs production of LAist's daily newscasts, shaping the radio stories that connect you to SoCal.
Published February 5, 2026 3:35 PM
Three people are dead and several others are injured after a woman crashed her car into a 99 Ranch Market in Westwood.
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Courtesy CBS LA
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Topline:
Three people are dead and there are multiple injuries after a driver crashed into a 99 Ranch Market in Westwood.
What we know: The crash happened around 12:11 p.m., according to LAFD, which says four people were transported to local hospitals. Two of those people were in critical condition and two were in fair condition. The L.A. Fire Department said the woman driver hit a bicyclist about a block earlier before crashing into the store.
Both the driver and bicyclist declined medical treatment and hospital transport. LAPD says it's not treating the crash as intentional. The LAFD says it removed the silver sedan from the store when it arrived at the scene to rescue people who were trapped. All three people who died were inside the bakery at the time of the crash.
The victims: Names of the victims have not been released, but LAFD has identified them as a 42-year-old woman and two men, ages 55 and 30.
The Los Angeles Police Department set up a perimeter in the parking lot of the California Science Center following a shooting Thursday.
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Isaiah Murtaugh
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The LA Local
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Topline:
Los Angeles police officers shot and killed a man who appeared to be armed with a rifle outside the California Science Center in Exposition Park on Thursday morning, according to LAPD Deputy Chief Marc Reina.
What do we know right now? Reina said a motorcycle cop initially spotted the man around 9:30 a.m. carrying what appeared to be a rifle and walking west down State Drive, a small road that runs between the science center and Exposition Park Rose Garden. Multiple cops responded to the scene and faced off with the man. The subject continued down State Drive, Reina said, before police opened fire.
Read on ... for more on what witnesses to the incident saw.
Los Angeles police officers shot and killed a man who appeared to be armed with a rifle outside the California Science Center in Exposition Park on Thursday morning, according to LAPD Deputy Chief Marc Reina.
Reina said police do not yet know the identity of man, who they estimate was about 35 years old.
No police or other community members were injured in the incident, Reina said. The science center was placed briefly on lockdown but reopened. The north side of the museum remains closed, the deputy chief said.
Reina said a motorcycle cop initially spotted the man around 9:30 a.m. carrying what appeared to be a rifle and walking west down State Drive, a small road that runs between the science center and Exposition Park Rose Garden.
Multiple cops responded to the scene and faced off with the man. The subject continued down State Drive, Reina said, before police opened fire.
Los Angeles Fire Department personnel arrived at the scene and pronounced the man dead, Reina said.
The incident will be investigated by department use-of-force investigators, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office and the LAPD’s inspector general, the deputy chief said.
Investigators have not yet determined what prompted police to open fire, Reina said. Police do not believe the man fired his weapon.
Here's what witnesses saw
Stacey Hutchinson said he was sitting on a bench along State Drive drinking a cup of coffee when the incident unfolded.
He said the man appeared in good spirits and greeted him nonchalantly as he walked up the street before taking a seat. Hutchinson said he saw the man carrying what appeared to be a long gun.
Police initially responded with bean bag guns, Hutchinson said, but drew firearms when the man picked up the weapon.
Police opened fire after the man pointed the apparent rifle in their direction, Hutchinson said.
The man did not appear to be trying to enter the science center, Hutchinson said, and appeared to remain calm until police asked him to drop his weapon.
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Jill Replogle
covers public corruption, debates over our voting system, culture war battles — and more.
Published February 5, 2026 2:34 PM
Then-Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do serving at an Orange County Board of Supervisor's meeting back in November 2023.
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Nick Gerda
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LAist
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Former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do has been disbarred, stemming from his conviction last year on a federal bribery charge. The disbarment was expected. It stems from a state Supreme Court order that came down Dec. 1 and is now recorded as such on the state bar's website.
What's the backstory?
Do is currently serving a five-year prison sentence in Arizona after admitting to directing money to several nonprofit groups and businesses that then funneled some of that money back to himself and family members for personal gain. LAist has been investigating the alleged corruption since 2023. Do was also ordered to pay $878,230.80in restitution for his role in the bribery scheme that saw millions in taxpayer dollars diverted from feeding needy seniors, leading authorities to label him a “Robin Hood in reverse.”
What does the bar action mean?
The official disbarment means Do is prohibited from practicing law in California. He was also ordered to pay $5,000 to the State Bar.
Go deeper ...
Here's a look at some of LAist's coverage of one of the biggest corruption scandals in Orange County history:
Gillian Morán Pérez
is an associate producer for LAist’s early All Things Considered show.
Published February 5, 2026 2:21 PM
The first graduation at California Indian Nations College, class of 2020 and 2021.
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Courtesy California Indian Nations College
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Topline:
California now has it's first fully accredited tribal college in almost 30 years.
California Indian Nations College in Palm Desert recently received an eight-year accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
Why it matters: The accreditation grants the college access to state and federal funding for higher education. Assemblymember James C. Ramos of San Bernardino calls the milestone historic, saying California has the highest number of Native Americans in the U.S.
