Archive for July 11th, 2013

Social media reacts ahead of AQMD vote on fire pits (poll)
Local | | July 11 2013, 6:27 PMWe saw an overwhelming plume of support for the fire pits when we asked folks on social media. Where do you stand on the issue?

Saudi princess in trafficking case posts $5M bail
Crime & Justice | | July 11 2013, 5:37 PMA Saudi princess charged with human trafficking has posted $5 million bail a day after her arrest in Orange County.

Weekend Traffic: Pomona Freeway, Ocean Boulevard to close
Local | | July 11 2013, 5:15 PMThe 60 Freeway will close as crews work to restore pavement in the area. Ocean Boulevard will close as crews demolish an overpass this weekend.

San Diego mayor offers apology, not resignation, over sexual harassment (video)
Politics | | July 11 2013, 4:29 PMIn a video statement released Thursday, the mayor apologized over sexual harassment allegations but remained silent on calls for his resignation.

Senate backs Brown's choice for prison secretary
Local | | July 11 2013, 4:03 PMA judge said there is far more work that needs to be done to improve the treatment of mentally ill inmates in state prisons.

Brown signs California business incentive program
Local | | July 11 2013, 3:37 PMThe governor initially sought to eliminate the state's $750 million enterprise zone program but later agreed to revamp the program after pushback from businesses.

Asiana Flight 214: Investigators clear runway, release it to SFO
US & World | | July 11 2013, 3:34 PMNTSB tweeted a photo Thursday that showed debris from the accident and announced that the runway where the crash happened had reopened.

Air quality board to vote on beach fire restrictions Friday (Poll)
Local | | July 11 2013, 3:15 PMShould fire pits be banned along certain Southern California beaches? A regional regulatory agency is scheduled to weigh in on the issue Friday. Share your thoughts in our poll.

Missing Menifee boy's father: His alleged murder 'didn't come as a surprise'
Crime & Justice | | July 11 2013, 12:43 PMThe boy's father said his son feared his 16-year-old half brother, whom he said had anger issues. "It didn't come as a surprise with his past," Smith said.

Diary reveals aide at special needs school had student's baby
Crime & Justice | | July 11 2013, 12:13 PMAuthorities say the diary of a Southern California teacher's aide reveals her sexual relationship with an underage student and that she gave birth to the boy's baby.

'East Los High': A Los Angeles telenovela
Arts & Entertainment | | July 11 2013, 9:28 AMSexting, teen pregnancy — its just another day at "East Los High." With the help of an all-Latino cast, it's a modern-day telenovela centering on L.A. teens at risk.

Scattered rain showers hit Southern California
Local | | July 11 2013, 8:23 AMSouthern California weather reports show a few more scattered rain showers through Thursday night, but things are expected to dry up — and heat up.

Riverside commuter rail extension back on track after settlement
Local | | July 11 2013, 8:18 AMA Riverside County environmental group agreed to drop a legal fight against a 24-mile commuter rail extension project.

New Mexico's Taos Pueblo celebrates Richard Nixon's 100th birthday
Local | | July 11 2013, 7:10 AMA northern New Mexico American Indian tribe is scheduled to honor the late President Richard Nixon Friday for his efforts to help tribes.

Labor Dept.: US unemployment applications rose to 360K last week.
US & World | | July 11 2013, 5:57 AMU.S. unemployment benefit applications rose 16,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 360,000, although the level remains consistent with steady hiring.

CPUC to move transmission lines underground in Chino Hills
Pacific Swell | | July 11 2013, 7:40 PMThe Public Utilities Commission has decided to put a stretch of high-voltage transmission lines underground through a densely-populated stretch of Chino Hills.

Mammoth Lakes, DWP end fight over Mammoth Creek water rights
Pacific Swell | | July 11 2013, 7:38 PMLos Angeles and Mammoth Lakes said Thursday they have ended a lengthy legal battle over water rights in the eastern Sierra.

Slurpee wasted: 11 sick images from 7-Eleven's free Slurpee frenzy
The Latest | | July 11 2013, 7:09 PMThere's nothing like a free cup of clumpy sugar-stew to bring out the creepy in people.

UTLA teachers give superintendent below average marks
Pass / Fail | | July 11 2013, 6:18 PMIn teacher survey, 85% rate Superintendent John Deasy's performance as below average or poor. Union to send results to L.A. Unified board.

California prison officials respond to mass hunger strike
Represent! | | July 11 2013, 5:47 PMThe number of participating inmates dropped from 29,000 to 12,000, but state officials still have a lot on their hands to ensure prisoners' wellbeing.

What everyone really thinks about LA, according to Google searches
Without A Net | | July 11 2013, 2:23 PMWhat exasperates people about Los Angeles? Let's look at the Google AutoSuggest results of “why is [city name] so…” for the United States’ 50 largest cities.

No Democratic support for piecemeal immigration bills
Represent! | | July 11 2013, 12:54 PMBoth John Boehner and Xavier Becerra say there needs to be a bipartisan approach to immigration. But it's highly unlikely in the House.

Digitizing Northeast LA's community newspapers
Off-Ramp | | July 11 2013, 12:06 PMA new grant will allow the continued digital archiving of small community papers that cover Northeast Los Angeles.

Former teacher Rep. Mark Takano gives GOP immigration letter an 'F'
Represent! | | July 11 2013, 11:43 AMThe grammar was fine, but former English teacher and first-term Congressman gives GOP colleagues a failing grade for immigration letter.

Dead pan: Death Valley cracks down on sidewalk egg-frying fad
The Latest | | July 11 2013, 11:22 AMPark officials are cracking down on the "leave no trace" policy after an egg cooking video sent people into a sidewalk frying frenzy.

10 South LA clinics get $1.6 million for patient outreach
OnCentral | | July 11 2013, 10:31 AMThe federal funding is meant to be used to teach patients about their expanded insurance options under the Affordable Care Act.

In immigration news: Senate plan hits resistance in House, the demographics of reform opponents' districts, more
Multi-American | | July 11 2013, 10:24 AMAs expected, the Senate's immigration reform plan has hit resistance in the House, where GOP members are split and some are pitching scaled-back alternatives. This and more.

Maven's Morning Coffee: Long Beach turns down the ice cream man
Represent! | | July 11 2013, 7:50 AMToday is Thursday, July 11 and headlines include the impact of at-large districts in Whittier, Malibu's building regulations, and ice cream trucks in Long Beach.

'Spider-Man' star Andrew Garfield: Spidey should be gay (POLL)
Without A Net | | July 11 2013, 7:27 AM“What if MJ is a dude?" Garfield said. "Why can’t we discover that Peter is exploring his sexuality? … So why can’t he be gay? Why can’t he be into boys?”

Whittier Latinos may use courts to seek district elections
Represent! | | July 11 2013, 6:00 AMA local group sets a July 17 deadline for the city to change its at-large elections to a district format or face a lawsuit under the California Voting Rights Act.

LA Unified's historical collection may surprise you
Pass / Fail | | July 11 2013, 6:00 AMThe Los Angeles Unified School District collects artifacts from its more than 150 years - including report cards from the 1800s.
The Loh Down On Science
Take Two Evenings
AirTalk®

Filmweek: Pacific Rim, Grown Ups 2, The Hunt and more
| July 11 2013, 5:38 PMLarry and KPCC critics Tim Cogshell and Andy Klein review this week’s releases, including Pacific Rim, Grown Ups 2, The Hunt and more. TGI-Filmweek!

Should credit unions be allowed to continue receiving tax exempt status despite acting more and more like big banks?
| July 11 2013, 11:23 AMThe roles of credit unions in the U.S. are growing, as is their customer base. Big banks have been losing their customers to credit unions because of frustration over rising banks fees. Now those big banks are pushing to abolish credit unions' tax exempt status.

Calif. lawmakers call for investigation into sterilization of female inmates
| July 11 2013, 10:46 AMThe Center for Investigative Reporting found that doctors with the California Department of Corrections sterilized nearly 150 female inmates from 2006 to 2010 without the required approvals. The report found that state doctors were paid nearly $150,000 to perform tubal ligations on inmates.

Unclear fate for Immigration Reform bill in Congress
| July 11 2013, 10:46 AMPresident Obama may not see an immigration bill on his desk anytime soon. Despite the Senate’s 68 to 32 vote on its comprehensive immigration bill, the House is in no rush to provide a pathway to citizenship.

Zimmerman trial enters final phase
| July 11 2013, 10:45 AMClosing arguments could begin today for the George Zimmerman trial. The neighborhood watch volunteer pleaded not guilty in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, claiming he killed the Florida teen in self-defense on Feb. 26, 2012. Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder.

Mayor Eric Garcetti talks review of city’s top department heads, diversity at City Hall, and more
| July 11 2013, 10:17 AMMayor Eric Garcetti told all of Los Angeles’ department chiefs that they need to reapply for their jobs. The mayor wants to hear from city managers on how they can better incorporate the use of technology and how to ensure the channels of communication between residents and government departments are open. Larry checks in with Mayor Garcetti on those topics and more.
Take Two®

Whittier Latinos may use CA Voting Rights Act to seek district elections
| July 11 2013, 10:48 AMIn KPCC's new series, "Project Citizen," we're pursuing stories that look at the responsibilities, traditions, and privileges that citizenship entails.

California moves to close workers comp loophole for athletes
Local | | July 11 2013, 10:40 AMFor years, professional athletes have been filing workers comp claims in California, even if they only played one game in the state their entire career and even if it wasn't for a team based in the state.

Chicago teachers to rally against Teach for America
| July 11 2013, 10:25 AMThis weekend in Chicago, there will be a rally protesting the Teach For America organization, comprised of teachers and former Teach for America alumni.

Report: More Americans exercising, but not losing weight
| July 11 2013, 10:02 AMA new study out this week from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation shows that Americans are exercising more than ever, but we aren't losing much weight.

San Diego Mayor Bob Filner urged to resign amid harassment claims
Politics | | July 11 2013, 9:51 AMFormer San Diego City councilwoman Donna Frye held a press conference earlier this hour calling for his resignation over allegations that he sexually harassed several women.

Southern California bobcats dying from mange
| July 11 2013, 9:42 AMBobcats can be found all over SoCal, but over the last decades researchers have noticed a disturbing trend. More and more bobcats seem to be dying from mange.

SoCal Politics: What's next for Wendy Greuel, special election and more
| July 11 2013, 9:31 AMTime for our look at politics here in Southern California with KPCC political reporters Frank Stoltze and Alice Walton.

Princeton study shows birthdays could affect babies' health
| July 11 2013, 9:21 AMBirthdays determine a variety of things, such as your horoscope and when you begin formal education. But more importantly, birthdays might also determine your health as a baby.

Behind the Special Security Unit of Pelican Bay Prison
| July 11 2013, 9:19 AMThe action is being led by inmates at Pelican Bay prison in Crescent City who are protesting conditions in special security units. One issue in particular is driving the action — controversial criteria used by corrections officials to hold men in isolation, sometimes for decades.

Day 4: Update on the California prison hunger strike
| July 11 2013, 9:04 AMToday, a hunger strike continues at Pelican Bay State Prison, as close to 30,000 inmates protest solitary confinement, among other issues. This protest is the largest in the state's history.

Dinner Party Download: Cigarette hoarding, 'McDiving,' and a bikini history lesson
| July 11 2013, 9:04 AMThis edition looks into the hoarding of menthol cigarettes, a disturbing trend going on in UK McDonald's, and the history of a vital piece of LA summer wear.

Texas laws spur increase in 'flea-market' abortions
| July 11 2013, 9:03 AMFor many low income women in Texas, dangerous and unhealthy alternatives to clinical abortion are an ongoing reality.

UN Report: Mexico surpasses US as most obese country
Health | | July 11 2013, 9:02 AMMexico has overtaken the U.S. as the world's most obese country, according to a new United Nations report out this week.

Why are Latinos in the US so susceptible to cardiovascular disease?
| July 11 2013, 9:02 AMEvery year, more Latinos die from cardiovascular disease in America than any other ailment, and the National Institutes of Health is trying to find out why.

Pentagon may reduce danger pay for nearly 56,000 troops
| July 11 2013, 9:01 AMThe Associated Press is reporting that the Defense Department may drop danger pay for roughly 56,000 troops.
Off-Ramp®

SF author Harlan Ellison on juvenile delinquents, gays and Orson Scott Card
Arts & Entertainment | | July 11 2013, 3:16 PMThe celebrated author of comes out of retirement this weekend for a book signing and, as expected, speaks his mind.

1939 WPA Guide to California more than a time machine
Local | | July 11 2013, 10:19 AM'John Steinbeck navigated by these guides and called them "the most comprehensive account of the United States ever got together, and nothing since has even approached it."'