June 30 - July 4, 2008
Monday, June 30
California Wildfires
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Firefighters in throughout California are battling more than 1,400 blazes. According to the State Office of Emergency Services, nearly 365,000 acres have burned, and red flag warnings are still in effect for Northern California. Lightning storms have sparked dry vegetation due to lower-than-average rainfall, a recipe that promises continued fire danger throughout the summer. Larry Mantle checks in with fire officials for the status of some of the larger fires.
Transitioning to Hands-Free Cell Phone Use
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A state law that takes effect July 1 prohibits 16 and 17 year-olds from using any device to talk or text while driving, except in an emergency. A companion law allows adults to continue chatting away, but says they must use a hands-free device while driving. Larry Mantle talks with Elaine Beno of the AAA of Southern California and checks in with listeners about how they're handling the transition.
Should Fast Food be Banned in South Los Angeles?
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Last year, LA City Councilwoman Jan Perry proposed a one-year moratorium on new fast food restaurants in South Los Angeles in an effort to limit the number of establishments that sell unhealthful food. Now she wants to make it permanent. Larry talks with the Councilwoman about the proposed ban which would prohibit new fast food outlets in 32 square miles of the city, including Watts, Crenshaw and Baldwin Hills.
SAG/AFTRA Update
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Larry Mantle talks with KPCC reporter Brian Watt about the status of SAG's negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers.
Is Global Warming a Threat to National Security?
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A new report by the nation's 16 intelligence agencies concludes that global warming could "seriously affect U.S. national security interests." The report, entitled "The National Security Implications of Global Climate Change Through 2030," predicts that warming will likely result in social unrest, poverty, and political destabilization around the world. What does this mean for the U.S.? Larry Mantle talks with NPR correspondent Tom Gjelten, Sharon Burke from The Center for a New American Security and Kenneth Green of the American Enterprise Institute.
The Man Who Invented the Supernatural
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Acclaimed historian Jim Steinmeyer joins Larry Mantle to explore the life and times of Charles Fort, the man would define our idea of the anomalous and paranormal. Steinmeyer's new biography on Charles Fort tells the story of an era in which the certainties of religion and science were being turned on their heads and how Fort was the first man to challenged those orthodoxies.
Tuesday, July 1
SAG & AFTRA Update
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The labor contract between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and Hollywood studios has expired and no agreement has yet been reached. At the same time, SAG leadership has angered the leaders of the smaller AFTRA by asking dual members to vote July 8 against an agreement AFTRA has already reached with producers. Larry Mantle talks with negotiators Anne Marie Johnson of SAG and Jason George of AFTRA, and with spokesman Jesse Hiestand of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
California's New Fiscal Year Starts Without a New Budget
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California's lawmakers continue to talk, but once again the yearly budget deadline has come and gone. Larry talks with policymakers and watchers about what's standing in the way and about the repercussions of running the state of Califonia without a budget. Guests include Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, Senator George Runner, and H.D. Palmer of the state's Department of Finance.
Reforming California's Death Penalty System
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California's death penalty system is on the verge of collapse - this according to a report released Monday by a state-sponsored commission. The wait time in California between conviction and execution is nearly twice the national average, and some inmates have been on death row for over 25 years. Voter initiatives have increased the number of crimes subject to the death penalty, and a shortage of lawyers continues. Larry Mantle talks with a panel of experts about how to fix the problem.
The Rise of Preschool Entertainment
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Parents across the country are familiar with Barney, the Teletubbies, and Dora the Explorer. But when he realized his young daughter was "hooked" on TV, writer and father Dade Hayes began to explore the pros and cons of the industry and how entertainment is marketed to kids and their parents. Larry talks with Hayes about his new book, "Anytime Playdate."
Wednesday, July 2
Coping with the Economy
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This week, Starbucks announced it's closing 600 stores and eliminating 12,000 jobs. But the spiraling economy isn't just a corporate problem. In our daily life, it affects us at every turn - from our daily commute to our weekly grocery bill to our summer vacation plans. What changes have you made to meet your money challenges? Larry invites your calls to share the ways the economy is changing your family's life.
eBay Fined Millions by the French Government for Selling Counterfeit Goods
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A French Court says eBay should pay more than $61 million to a high-end fashion company Louis Vuitton because counterfeit goods were sold on the auction site. eBay plans to appeal the ruling. Should eBay be held responsible for the illegal activities of its users? Larry Mantle talks to intellectual property attorney Michael Huget, and with Kenneth Walton, the author of "Fake: Forgery, Lies, & eBay."
US Army Reports it was Unprepared for the Iraq War
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"On Point II," an army study released this week, concludes that senior leaders failed to properly plan for the aftermath of the Iraq invasion, leaving our troops woefully unprepared for the realities they were to face on the ground. What went wrong? Just about everything, as high-level military personnel reveal in the 700-page report. Larry Mantle talks with report authors Col. Timothy R. Reese and Donald Wright, as well as Command Sgt. Major Philip Johndrow, Retired Army Major General William Nash and Nora Bensahel of the RAND Corporation.
The Origins of Executive Privilege
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A 1953 Supreme Court decision gave our government's executive branch sweeping authority to conceal information under the claim of national security. Larry talks with Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Barry Siegel, about his new book, "Claim of Privilege," about the legal precedent of the "state secrets" privilege and its impact on our nation.
Thursday, July 3
More Cuts at the L.A. Times
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The Los Angeles Times plans to cut 250 positions, including 150 jobs in the print and Web news departments. The move followed an announcement last week that the paper's parent, Tribune Co., is exploring the sale of its headquarters in Chicago and the building in downtown Los Angeles that houses the Times. Larry Mantle talks with LA Times editor Russ Stanton about the reasons for the changes. Larry also talks with LA Observed editor Kevin Roderick.
Fire Update
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The fire in the Los Padres National Forest near Big Sur continues to rage and Big Sur residents have been ordered to evacuate. Another fast-growing fire in the southern extension of the Los Padres forest above Santa Barbara forced about 45 residents
to evacuate as strong winds pushed flames toward homes in the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains. Larry Mantle talks with public information officer Dianne Black for an update on the Santa Barbara area fire.
OC Journalists Roundtable
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Larry Mantle talks with OC Weekly staff writer Gustavo Arellano and Orange County Register senior editorial writer and columnist Steven Greenhut about the latest news events and developments in Orange County.
The Psychology of Patriotism
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As Americans prepare to celebrate our nation's birth, conflicting notions of patriotism have been inundating the media. But how we define patriotism goes deeper than flag pins, fireworks, or yellow ribbons - its roots are deep in our psyche. Larry explores the topic with psychologist Michael Bader and invites listeners to weigh in.
Robert Crais
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Best-selling author joins Larry Mantle to talk about living and writing in LA and about "Chasing Darkness," his 12th novel to feature Los Angeles private investigator, Elvis Cole.
Friday, July 4
How the States Got Their Shapes
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Ever wonder why Michigan has two parts that aren't attached to each other, or why a little sliver of West Virginia runs up between Pennsylvania and Ohio, or why tiny bits of Delaware are connected to New Jersey rather than the rest of Delaware? We've been looking at the map of the United States since childhood so, unconventional as many of the states' borders are, they seem natural to us. Larry talks with Mark Stein, author of "How the States Got Their Shapes," about the historical and geographical reasons our states' boundaries became the jigsaw puzzle we take for granted.
Guest: Mark Stein, author of How the States Got Their Shapes
The Civil War in the Words of Former Slaves
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In this unprecedented look at the Civil War, historian Andrew Ward, gives an account of our nation's bloodiest conflict from the point of view of the people it freed. Larry talks with Ward about his book, "The Slaves' War," which was drawn from interviews, diaries, letters, and memoirs. It uncovers slaves' theories about the causes of the war, their thoughts about Lincoln, Davis, Lee, and Grant; and their memories of the carnage of battle.
Guest: Andrew Ward, author of The Slaves War: The Civil War in the Words of Former Slaves
The Life of Hunter S. Thompson
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Larry Mantle talks with Academy Award winning documentarian Alex Gibney about his new film "Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson." Gibney's latest film "Taxi to the Dark Side" won the Oscar for Best Documentary this year. He also wrote and directed the Academy Award-nominated film "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room."
Guest: Alex Gibney, director, writer and producer of "Gonzo: The Life of and Work of Hunter S. Thompson."
FilmWeek
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Larry and critics Lael Loewenstein of Variety, and Peter Rainer of The Christian Science Monito, review some of the week's new feature films including "Hancock," "The Wackness," and "Diminished Capacity," as well as the documentaries "Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson" and "Chris and Don: A Love Story."
Guest: Peter Rainer, of the Christian Science Monitor.
Guest: Lael Loewenstein, of Variety.
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