August 14 - 18, 2006
Monday, Aug. 14
Cease Fire In Israel-Lebanon
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As a UN-brokered ceasefire begins between Israel and Hezbollah, tension remains high on both sides. Lebanese civilians defied an Israeli travel ban and streamed back to their homes in war-ravaged areas Monday after a U.N. cease-fire halted fighting in the month-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that has claimed more than 900 lives. For the first time in a month, no rockets were fired into northern Israel, but few Israelis who fled the war were seen returning and Israel's government advised them to stay away for now to see whether the truce held. John Beaupre discusses the ceasefire and the future of relations between Israel and Lebanon.
The 100 Most Powerful People In Southern California
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West magazine, the Sunday insert of the Los Angeles Times, profiled Southern California's 100 most powerful people. John Beaupre discusses the feature with the magazines editor, Rick Wartzman.
Multi-Tasking
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According to a recent UCLA study multi-tasking affects the brain's learning systems, and as a result, we do not learn as well when we are distracted.
Tuesday, Aug. 15
Another LAX Landing System Failure
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Authorities are investigating what caused an instrument landing system at Los Angeles International Airport to
fail for the second time in a week. Dozens of flights were delayed. According to the FAA the system went down just before 10:00 a.m. and came back on 40 minutes later. The repeated problems have prompted airport officials to question how well the system was being maintained by the FAA.(AP) Guest host Jon Beaupre talks with FAA spokesman Ian Gregor about the situation.
San Diego Cross Dispute
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President Bush has signed legislation making San Diego's disputed Mount Soledad Cross a federal property. Supporters hope that will protect the 29-foot cross from a string of court decisions that deemed it unconstitutional because it stands on public property. Under federal law, which is more flexible than California law, religious displays may stand on public property if they have a secular meaning. But a lawyer for the atheist who has waged a 17-year court battle to remove the cross says he filed papers in federal court last week to void the transfer and declare it unconstitutional. Guest host Jon Beaupre talks with Chapman constitutional law professor John Eastman and San Diego civil rights attorney James McElroy.
Bilingual Education Debate Resurfaces
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A bill sponsored by California State Senator Martha Escutia would add an hour of special instruction to English learners in California's elementary and middle schools. Opponents of the bill say it's an attempt to restore bilingual education in California. Guest host Jon Beaupre talks to the bill's principal co-author Democratic Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, and Republican Assemblyman Bob Huff who voted against it. He also hears from Sabrina Lockheart, Deputy Press Secretary for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The New Yorker's Seymour Hersh on the Israel/Hezbollah Crisis
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In the upcoming issue of The New Yorker (August 21), Seymour M. Hersh reports that the Bush Administration "was closely involved in the planning of Israel's retaliatory attacks" against Hezbollah, even prior to the July 12th kidnappings of two Israeli servicemen. Guest host Jon Beaupre talks with Hersh about his allegations that intelligence officials said that a successful Israeli bombing campaign against Hezbollah "could ease Israel's security concerns and also serve as a prelude to a potential American preemptive attack to destroy Iran's nuclear installations."
David Hyde Pierce
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Perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Niles Crane on the hit television series, Frasier, David Hyde Pierce, is also a consummate stage, film, and voice-over actor. Guest host Jon Beaupre talks with the four time Emmy award winner about his career and his current role as Lt. Frank Cioffo in the new Kander and Ebb musical comedy, Curtains, now on stage at the Ahmanson Theatre.
Wednesday, Aug. 16
Marine Reserves Established Off Central California Coast
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The California Fish and Game Commission has created 29 marine protected areas, stretching from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz counties, which will ban or severely restrict fishing to help depleted fish populations rebound. The area of approximately 200 square miles of state waters marks the nation's first network of marine reserves next to a heavily populated coastline. Jon Beaupre and his guests discuss the new marine reserves that were more than six years in the making.
Journalists Supoenaed in Balco Case
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A federal judge has ordered two San Francisco Chronicle reporters to comply with a subpoena and tell a grand jury who leaked them secret testimony of Barry Bonds, and other elite athletes, involved in the government's steroid probe. Reporters and authors Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada must appear before the grand jury unless a higher court blocks yesterday’s ruling. Jon Beaupre talks with Fainaru-Wada who has said he and Williams will not testify and would go to jail rather than reveal their sources.
Buildings At Risk When the "Big One" Hits
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A new Caltech study indicates that high-rises in the San Fernando Valley, built in compliance with the latest codes, would be at risk of collapse if a big earthquake hits. Jon Beaupre and his guests discuss the study which used advanced 3-D supercomputer earthquake simulations to predict the results of a magnitude 7.9 quake.
Airline Passenger Profiling
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In light of the arrest of suspects in the recent London terror plot, British security officials are reconsidering their current profiling protocols. Should the United States reevaluate the use of racial and religious profiling as a security tactic? Guest host Jon Beaupre and his guests discuss the future of airline passenger screening and the use of profiling to detect potential terrorists.
The Devil's in the Details
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Jon Beaupre talks with Henry Ansgar Kelly about his new book, "Satan: A Biography."
Thursday, Aug. 17
Housing Market Slow-Down
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Annual home sales in Southern California slowed in July for the eighth straight month, and the rate of price increases fell to the lowest level since 1999. July is generally the weakest month for home sales, which typically fall about 7 percent from June. But this July, sales fell 22.3 percent from June, a sign that demand may be heading into an extended lull. Larry Mantle talks with John Karevoll, with DataQuick, and Chris Thornberg with Beacon Economics.
Warrentless Wiretapping Ruled Unconstitutional
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A federal judge in Detroit has ruled the Federal government's warrantless wiretap program violates the constitution and has ordered an immediate halt to it. Larry discusses the ramifications of the rulings with law professor Robert Pugsley.
Orange County Journalists Roundtable
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Larry Mantle talks with Orange County Register op-ed column editor Steven Greenhut, OC Weekly senior editorial writer and columnist, Gustavo Arellano, and William Lobdell of the LA Times, about the latest news events and developments in Orange County.
Disarming Hezbollah
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The cease-fire agreement between Israel and Lebanon has left one important question unresolved – should Hezbollah agree to disarm? Is disarmament realistic, or possible and if so, how will it happen? Larry gets the ground view from journalists in both Beirut and Jerusalem.
Jill Caroll's Kidnappers
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According to an investigation by The Christina Science Monitor, reporter Jill Carroll's captors appear to be involved in some of the most high-profile kidnappings of Westerners in Iraq during the past two years. Larry talks about the developments in the story with Dan Murphy, the Monitor's Middle East/Baghdad correspondent who was based in Baghdad throughout Jill's captivity. He and The Monitor, along with government officials, Arab and Islamic leaders, and Jill's family worked to secure Carroll's release.
Bobby Rodriguez
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Larry talks with Grammy nominated Jazz Trumpeter Bobby Rodriguez about his new book "ABC's of Latin Jazz" and his career as a jazz artist and educator.
Friday, Aug. 18
Legislative Round-Up
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Larry Mantle talks with KPCC Sacramento Reporter Tamara Keith about many of the important bills that are pending in the California Legislature.
New Anti-Terrorism Strategy
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Larry Mantle talks to veteran terrorism expert Brian Michael Jenkins about his proposal for a new strategy to fight terrorism at home and abroad while vigorously defending American's freedom and civil liberties. At home, the strategy relies on self-reliance and citizen involvement as the principle weapons in a prolonged struggle against terrorist threats. Abroad, he calls on the nation to eradicate the jihadist network with a wide range of political, military and ideological initiatives that can be maintained over the many decades it will take to achieve victory.
FilmWeek
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Larry Mantle and critics
Ella Taylor of the L.A. Weekly
and Scott Foundas, film editor for the L.A. Weekly,
discuss this week's new releases, including Accepted, Factotum, The Illusionist, Trust the Man, Lunacy,
and Crossing The Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul.
