July 7 - 11, 2008
Monday, July 7
California Wildfires Update
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The wildfires continue burning throughout the state. Governor Schwarzenegger has been touring the fire zones, and last week ordered 400 National Guard troops to help in the effort, saying the state's resources are being stretched thin. Larry talks with Captain Eli Iskow, spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Fire department, Greg DeNitto, public information officer from the Basin Complex Fire, Lisa Page, deputy press secretary, Office of the Governor, and Tom Birmingham, co-owner, Nepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur.
Gay and Lesbian Domestic Violence
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Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon wants the city to create a task force to look at lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender domestic violence. Larry talks with Alarcon about his new proposal.
Where Do Your Charitable Dollars Go
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Nonprofit organizations, both large and small, often hire for-profit fundraisers to help them raise money for their charitable causes. But, according to a new investigation by the LA Times, many of the charities get only a sliver of the money collected in their names. Records filed with the California attorney general's office show that over the last decade, fundraisers kept more than 94 cents of every donated dollar. In some cases, the nonprofits even lost money. Larry talks with Charles Piller, Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, Daniel Borochoff, President, American Institute of Philanthropy, Art Taylor, President & CEO of the Better Business Bureau, Wise Giving Alliance, and Ken Berger, President, Charity Navigator, about the startling figures and resources for wise giving.
Presidential Race Update
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Barack Obama will accept the Democratic
presidential nomination at Invesco Field at Mile High stadium, the 76,000-seat home to the Denver Broncos. This move will help with fund raising and make room for the huge crowds expected at the speech. Meanwhile, Republican presidential candidate John McCain acknowledged the steep drop in U.S. jobs and said he would boost the economy through tax cuts, encouraging free trade and building nuclear power plants. Larry talks with political analysts: Marc Cooper, columnist, professor at USC Annenberg School for Communication, and Dan Schnur, professor and Republican political strategist, about the latest on the Presidential race.
Travels In The World Of Atomic Weaponry
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Journalists Nathan Hodge and Sharon Weinberger want what most of us want from a family vacation: to see new places, visit family, and experience something relevant to their lives. Unlike most of us, that meant traveling to Kazakhstan, Russia, Iran, and remote regions of the US, and touring the world's nuclear arsenals. Larry talks with the authors about their unusual journey and their new book "A Nuclear Family Vacation: Travels in the World of Atomic Weaponry."
Tuesday, July 8
G-8 Climate Agreement
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Leaders of the Group of 8 wealthiest nations today agreed to greenhouse gas emission goals for 2050. The plan, discussed at the Toyako Summit in Japan, is to cut emissions by 50 percent. There are problems, however: critics say the language of the agreement is so vague that it's unclear how these goals will be enforced. They add that the agreement lacks any strict, short term reductions--meaning it's doubtful that any serious limits on emissions will begin anytime soon. Larry gets the latest from Sheryl Gay Stolberg, White House Correspondent, New York Times, covering the G8 Summit from Rusutsu, Japan, and Roger Pielke Jr., Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder; author of "The Honest Broker: Making Sense of Science in Policy and Politics."
IndyMac Gets Out Of Lending: Cuts 3,800 Jobs
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Ever since it became public that New York Senator Charles Schumer had requested the FDIC to prep for Pasadena-based IndyMac's collapse, it's been assumed that the one-time leader in the home loans business was not going to survive the mortgage crisis. Yesterday it announced that it would lay off 3,800 people, more than half its staff, and get out of the mortgage business. It is also closing nine regional offices, including four in California. Overall, that's a loss of over 7,000 jobs nationwide since 2006. Larry talks with business analyst Mark Lacter about the troubling economic implications for our region.
So Long Suburbs?
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The real estate crisis has hit everywhere, but no place is the impact more firmly felt than in the far-out suburbs called exurbia. And that's attributed, at least in part, to gas prices--now that it's so expensive to get from point "A" to "B," there's a new premium on being close to job centers. That's got urban planners wondering: is the time of the suburban subdivision--a relatively new creation that's existence is predicated on the automobile and cheap gas--coming to a close? Those in the new urbanism movement say good riddance. But others fear a return to 19th century urban squalor as people clamor to find housing in job centers and downtown areas. Larry talks with Joel Kotkin, presidential fellow in urban futures at Chapman University, and Rick Cole, city manager for Ventura, about the future of the suburb.
Cholesterol Screening For Children
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The current epidemic of childhood obesity has prompted concern about the risks of high cholesterol in children, which could lead to heart disease and other health problems later in life. The American Academy of Pediatrics this week released a new study recommending children and adolescents be screened for cholesterol and, if necessary, the use of prescription drugs such as statins, in children as young as eight years old. The authors of the study stress that diet and exercise are still seen as the first resort. Larry talks about the report's implications with pediatrician Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, a member of the AAP Committee on Nutrition that worked on the study, and Andrea Giancoli, LAUSD Nutrition Coordinator.
Facing The Truth About The American Voter?
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The political doctrine of democracy poses a serious problem: power must reside with the average voter, but the business of governance requires a specialized, above-average knowledge. In his new book, "Just How Stupid Are We?," author and historian Rick Shenkman posits that voters are misusing, abusing, and abdicating their political power. He provides statistics that confirm the widely held opinion that the American political discourse lacks an informed and honest debate on meaningful issues. Larry talks with Shenkman about his premise and his suggestions for how to reform our government, media, civic organizations, and political parties.
Wednesday, July 9
AFTRA Vote In
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Despite fierce opposition from the larger Screen Actors Guild, members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists ratified a three-year prime-time TV contract with studios. A slim 62 percent of members voted to support the new contract. SAG members feared AFTRA's contract, if ratified, could undermine their own battle with AMPTP, and are being accused of pressuring AFTRA members to vote the deal down. Larry talks with KPCC Reporter Brian Watt, Roberta Reardon, President of AFTRA, Doug Allen, Executive Director of SAG and Chief Negotiator, and Jesse Hiestand, spokesman for Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
Taking Back The River - How Green Is Our Valley?
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Restoration efforts are underway to bring the long-neglected L.A. River back to life. The Los Angeles River Revival Master Plan, adopted last year after 18 months of public debate, calls for 239 improvement projects along 32 miles of riverway, at a cost of $2 billion. That brings to mind a "green belt" of people-friendly parks, bike paths and low-rise housing, supported by environmentalists and pro-river activists. But the City Council and Community Redevelopment Agency have also proposed a "green belt" of a different sort: a 19-acre industrial zone near downtown for developing and manufacturing renewable energy technologies, such as solar and wind power. Larry talks with Mark Haefele, Op-Ed Columnist for the Los Angeles Times, Lewis MacAdams, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Friends of the L.A. River, and Cecilia Estolano, CEO of the Community Redevelopment Association about our river’s future
Iranian Missle Test
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Iran test-fired nine long and medium-range missiles in the Persian Gulf Wednesday. The military exercise was conducted at the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf through which about 40 percent of the world's oil passes. Iran has threatened to shut down traffic in the strait if attacked. Footage showed at least six missiles firing simultaneously, including one that has a range of over 1,200 miles and is armed with a 1-ton conventional warhead. That would put Israel, Turkey, the Arabian Peninsula, Afghanistan, and Pakistan within striking distance. Iranian General Hossein Salami said the exercise would "demonstrate our resolve and might against enemies who in recent weeks have threatened Iran with harsh language," and "Our hands are always on the trigger and our missiles are ready for launch." Larry talks with Jim Walsh, International security expert at Security Studies Program, Center for International Studies, at M.I.T. and takes listener calls.
McCain and Obama Battle For The Latino Vote
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Senators McCain and Obama addressed the League of United Latino Citizens (LULAC) convention in Washington, DC, Tuesday. Both candidates are working hard to capture this essential constituency, 40 percent of which went to George W. Bush four years ago. Obama leads McCain among Latinos in recent polls, but over a quarter of the respondents are still undecided. Both candidates stressed economic concerns in their remarks to the convention yesterday, but immigration policy is sure to be a recurring issue in the campaign ahead. Larry talks with Louise Roug, Los Angeles Times reporter covering the Obama campaign, Hector M. Flores, Immediate Past President LULAC, and Danny Vargas, National Director of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly.
Thursday, July 10
California May Test 8th Graders in Algebra
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A policy approved by the State Board of Education could mandate algebra to pre-high school students. Critics of the plan say about half of California's students just don't have the basic math skills to handle algebra at that age. What's the answer? Larry talks with State Secretary of Education Dave Long, Deputy State Superintendent of Assessment and Accountability Deborah Sigman, Senior Deputy Superintendent of LAUSD Ramon Cortines, and math curriculum expert Charles Munger.
King Harbor Still Employs Disciplined Employees
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King-Drew hospital is gone, but apparently the bad apples are not. An investigative piece by the Los Angeles Times found that at least 22 employees who had been previously disciplined are still on duty either at the remains of the Watts medical facility or in other County hospitals. Larry Mantle talks to LA Times staff reporter Garrett Therolf and LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.
Medicare Meltdown?
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Democrats and Republicans have been embroiled in yet another fight about funding for Medicare. At stake are 10.6% cuts in Medicare payments to doctors, which could affect 52 million Americans. The House passed a bill last week attempting to stave off the cuts, but it fell one vote short of the 60 it needed to advance in the Senate. The stalled legislation was taken up by the Senate again Tuesday, and, with a crucial vote cast by Senator Kennedy, passed by a veto-proof margin. But will this new bill solve Medicare's many problems? Larry talks with experts about the future of Medicare and the politics of health care.
The Politics of Wine
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In his book "Wine Politics" writer Tyler Colman looks at a seldom recognized aspect of wine...the politics behind the labels. Colman explores the globalization of the wine business and the regulations in France and the US that so profoundly impact what goes in the bottle.
Friday, July 11
SAG Rejects "Final" Offer
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There's still no deal today between the Screen Actors Guild and film and television producers. Yesterday, SAG officially rejected the final offer by the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers. The union wants more money in DVD residuals. SAG also didn't like what the AMPTP offered in payment for new media. Producers say they've made their final offer and they're done talking. SAG's previous contract expired at the end of last month. The union's negotiating committee will meet today to decide where to go from here. Larry talks about the contract stalemate with Jesse Hiestand, spokesman for AMPTP, and Anne-Marie Johnson, member of the SAG negotiating committee.
Mortgage Fallout Continues: Fannie and Freddie Plummet
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Two mortgage giants, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, may not be able to raise enough money from investors to cover losses from loan defaults. That could mean Federal intervention and another bank bailout. This is also due to dramatic plunges - 50 percent in the last week in the case of Freddie Mac - in their stock values. As the fallout continues and banks implode under the strain of falling housing prices, what will it mean to the economy overall? And how far can the Feds go in bailing out banks? Larry talks with Walter Hamilton, reporter for the Los Angeles Times.
Your Airline Needs Your Help!
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First, you're forced to arrive at the airport hours early, then you have to stand in long lines, then you might get stranded on the tarmac for hours. You're charged for food, luggage, even headsets. Put simply, the once-friendly skies have become anything but. Yet now, the airlines are asking for your help. High fuel prices are bringing the airline industry to its knees. In an open letter to customers a consortium of airlines are urging passengers to contact their elected representatives and demand more transparency in oil markets to try to lower fuel prices. Larry talks with Dave Castleveder, Vice President of Communications for the Air Transportation Association of America, Michael Fabey, Senior Aviation Editor for Travel Weekly, Kate Hanni, founder of the Coalition for the Airline Passengers Bill of Rights, about what it would take to keep airlines flying and customers satisfied.
Filmweek Reviews
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Larry and critics Wade Major, of boxoffice.com and CityBeat, Claudia Puig, of USA Today, and Charles Solomon, of amazon.com review some of the week's new feature films including "HellBoy 2," "Meet Dave," "Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D," "Garden Party," and "The Stone Angel."
Review Regrets?
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Ever wonder if a critic has regretted giving a bad review or, for that matter, a good one? How do they prioritize the various aspects of a film when writing a review? Does their opinion of a movie ever change if they see it a second time? And can they, or should they, put their own prejudices aside when critiquing a film? Larry gets the dirt from the FilmWeek critics and takes listener calls.
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