June 12 - 16, 2006
Monday, June 12
Guantanamo Suicides
(Listen)
The U.S. military found the bodies of the two Saudis and one Yemeni in their cells on Saturday, hanging from sheets and clothing. Officials said all three left suicide notes, the contents of which have not been made public. Their deaths touched off new scrutiny and criticism of the prison, with human rights groups and foreign officials demanding the facility be closed. Larry Mantle talks with guests about the significance of the suicides on the possible closing of the controversial facility.
Does The Media Have An Anti-Military Bias?
(Listen)
Larry Mantle talks with Frank Schaeffer, who wrote the Op-Ed piece in the L.A Times, "In This Paper, Heroes Are MIA," about the media and anti-military bias.
Supreme Court Wrap-Up
(Listen)
The end of the current Supreme Court session is in sight. Larry talks with guests about the cases still to be heard by the High Court.
The New Book, I Wake Up Screening
(Listen)
Larry Mantle talks with the authors of the new book, I Wake Up Screening, which tells emerging filmmakers how to get their films talked about, written about, sold, and seen.
Tuesday, June 13
Evictions at the South Central Urban Farm
(Listen)
This morning, L.A. County sheriff's deputies began evicting the people who have been working the South Central Farm at the corner of 41st Street and Alameda. The owner, Ralph Horowitz, wants to sell the land, which is said to be the largest urban farm in the nation. Several activists have chained themselves to trees and picnic tables. The sheriff's department says several arrests have been made. The LAPD has placed its officers placed on tactical alert which means commanders can hold them past the end of their shifts if that becomes necessary for crowd control.
The State Budget
(Listen)
Larry Mantle broadcasts live from the lawn of the State Capitol in Sacramento, where he interviews Republican lawmakers and representatives of the Schwarzenegger administration about the state budget negotiations, the infrastructure bond, the November election, and more.
State Budget Continued
(Listen)
Larry Mantle broadcasts live from the lawn of the State Capitol in Sacramento, where he interviews Republican lawmakers and representatives of the Schwarzenegger administration about the state budget negotiations, the infrastructure bond, the November election, and more.
Wednesday, June 14
Drop in Enrollment Would Cost LAUSD Millions
(Listen)
Enrollment in city schools will continue to drop by thousands of students next year, Los Angeles education officials said Tuesday, and the decline is expected to cost the LAUSD tens of millions of dollars in state funding. The enrollment projections came to light when Superintendent Roy Romer submitted a $7.5-billion budget for the coming school year to the Board of Education.
According to Romer's proposed budget, about 20,000 fewer students will attend classes next year at the district's nearly 700 traditional campuses, dropping enrollment to about 678,000, marking the fourth consecutive year the district has lost students. Last fall, district officials were caught off guard by a decline of 20,258 students, which far exceeded their projections. Because nearly all the funding a school district receives from state coffers is based on enrollment, the declining totals in traditional Los Angeles schools will cost the district an estimated $114 million. At the same time, the district will save about $40 million in costs because there will be fewer students to serve. Larry Mantle discusses the impact of reduced enrollment on the district's budget.
The State Budget
(Listen)
Larry Mantle broadcasts live from State Senator Jack Scott's office at the State Capitol in Sacramento. Larry interviews Democratic lawmakers about the state budget negotiations, the infrastructure bond, the November election, and more.
State Budget Continued
(Listen)
Larry Mantle broadcasts live from State Senator Jack Scott's office at the State Capitol in Sacramento. Larry interviews Democratic lawmakers about the state budget negotiations, the infrastructure bond, the November election, and more.
Thursday, June 15
Bush Creates World's Largest Marine Reserve
(Listen)
America's 75th national monument will be an area that's home to rare species like endangered monk seals and nesting green sea turtles. President Bush is creating the marine reserve in the Pacific Ocean off the northwest islands of Hawaii. The 1400-mile-long area is home to some seven-thousand species, many of which can't be found anywhere else. The head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says it's the single largest act of ocean conservation in history. Bush is using a century-old law which gives a president authority to create national monuments to preserve America's ancient cultural sites and unusual geological features. The news caught environmentalists off guard. They expected President Bush to designate the island chain a marine sanctuary, which would have delayed protections and allowed legal opposition. By declaring the area a National Monument, the archipelago becomes protected immediately. Guest host Ted Chen talks with Hawaii Congressman Ed Chase, environmental attorney Linda Paul, and Joshua Reichert at the Pew Charitable Trust.
Violence in T.V. Commercials
(Listen)
Television networks use a voluntary rating system to warn viewers about the content of programs, but is anyone monitoring violence in commercials? Networks self-regulate commercial content, following their own standards and practices, but how are those guidelines established and monitored? Ted Chen and his guests discuss this practice of self-regulation, the differences in what's allowed to be shown, or heard, in commercials for broadcast, cable, internet, and in movie theatres, and what role the first amendment plays. Media law expert David Kohler, NBC attorney Don Zachary, and Melissa Caldwell of the Parents Television Council weigh in.
Iraq's Martyrs
(Listen)
Ted talks with Nir Rosen, a western journalist who has spent two of the past three years in Iraq, about his experiences and his new book, "In the Belly of the Green Bird: The Triumph of the Martyrs in Iraq."
Lorraine Bracco
(Listen)
Guest host Ted speaks with actress and author Lorraine Bracco about the conclusion of the 6th season of the hit TV series, "The Sopranos" as well her real life drama recently published in her autobiography, "On The Couch."
Friday, June 16
Mayor's School Plan In Trouble In Sacramento
(Listen)
The Mayor's LAUSD takeover plan is in jeopardy. This, according to Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, who is warning Mayor Villaraigosa that he needs to visit the Capitol soon and lobby Democratic lawmakers himself, in order to salvage his plan. Larry talks with KPCC's Sacramento reporter about this latest twist in the road.
Congress Rejects Timetable For Iraq Pullout
(Listen)
Larry talks with Linda Feldman, White House Correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor about the politics behind Congress's rejection of a timetable for an Iraq pullout.
Chandler Family Vs. Tribune Co.
(Listen)
The Chandler family, Tribune Co.'s second-largest shareholder, accused the Tribune Company of a series of strategic failures and called for its breakup. Larry discusses the possible sale of the L.A. Times.
FilmWeek
(Listen)
Larry Mantle and critics
Lael Loewenstein of Variety
and Peter Rainer of the Christian Science Monitor,
discuss this week's new releases, including Nacho Libre, The Lake House, Garfield A Tail of Two Kitties,
Loverboy, Coastlines, Giuliani Time
and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
