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May 22 - 26, 2006
Monday, May 22
Who Should Run the LAUSD? Parents Weigh In
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LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has a lot of plans to change the LA Unified School District... but what do parents think? How would students fair under the mayor's proposals? How would taking another hour onto the school day change families routines? Patt Morrison travels to Venice High School to host a town hall discussion where parents have their turn to voice their hopes and concerns for the district. In addition to the audience, Patt's guests include the following three parents: Betty Glenn, Mary Najera and Bill Ring.
To hear the second part of the program listen here.
Tuesday, May 23
Proposition 82 - Yes or No on Universal Preschool
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Among the many decisions California voters will be making on June 6th is whether to create a constitutional right for Californian 4-year-olds to attend public preschool. Proposition 82 intends to create high quality preschools funded by a 1.7% tax increase on taxable incomes of over $400,000. Phil Halperin, president of the Silver Giving Foundation, joins Patt to explain why universal preschool better prepares children to perform in grade school and life at large. Lisa Snell, education director for the Reason Foundation, rounds out the debate with reasons why creating a new $2.5 billion a year program governed by the already overburdened state government may not serve California's children best.
For more information: Yes on 82; No on 82
North Korean Refugees Settle in the Southland
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Six North Korean defectors fleeing poverty, torture, sexual slavery and other abuses arrived in Southern California over the weekend. They were the first North Korean refugees to arrive in the United States since President Bush signed the North Korean Human Rights Act in 2004. Patt talks with Pastor Peter Sohn, president of the Korean Church Coalition and Pastor at Bethel Korean Church in Irvine and Los Angeles Times reporter Valerie Reitman, about the condition of the refugees and about their stories of life in North Korea.
Smart Kids in Southern California
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California is home to the newly crowned national handwriting champion—Andre Cataluna, a 7th grader at St. Philomena School in Carson. For scripting words with the best slant, space, size, and shape Andre receives $1,500 in prizes, including t-shirts for his whole class. Andre puts down the pen to share some of cursives finer points with Patt. Also joining the conversation is Ryland Lu, an 8th grader at Pressman Academy. He is the California champion of the National Geographic Geography Bee.
Wednesday, May 24
Exit Exam reinstated?
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The California State Supreme Court just reinstated the state's high school exit exam as a requirement for graduation. But what will this mean for the 47,000 students who did not pass? LA Times reporter Joel Rubin and KPCC education reporter Adolfo Guzman-Lopez fill Patt in with the details.
Pet Friendly Legislation
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Dogs and cats will be safer now. Yesterday the House approved legislation mandating state and local preparedness offices to take pets into account when drafting emergency preparedness plans. The bill's sponsor,,US Representative from California' 12th District, Tom Lantos, joins Patt.
Who Wields the Power in Iran?
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Unlike in the US, the president of Iran is not the commander-in-chief, and instead of issuing vetoes his resolutions can be vetoed by clerics who hold more power. Given the complicated power structure inherent in a theocratic republic, where some officials get their power from the people and some derive their legitimacy from a "divine source", who's in charge in Iran? Perhaps more importantly - who should Washington negotiate with, President Ahmadinejad, or Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei? To shed some light on the issue Patt speaks with Abbas Milani, co-director of the Iran Democracy Project at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and Juan Cole, professor of Modern Middle East History at the University of Michigan.
Iran Awakening
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Shirin Ebadi is a lawyer, human rights activist, writer and dissident, who is internationally known for speaking on behalf of her native Iran. In 2003, she became the first Iranian and first Muslim woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In her memoir, Iran Awakening (Random House), Ebadi tells the remarkable story of her personal and professional life, from her girlhood in a modest Tehran household, to her success as an accomplished female jurist. Host Patt Morrison talks with author Shirin Ebadi about her book, her country and her hopes for the future.
Thursday, May 25
Ballistic Identification - Laser Stamps on Bullets
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Promising microstamping technology for marking bullets as they are fired has been tested successfully in California, and a bill requiring gun manufacturers to include a microstamp on every newly designed and manufactured handgun is ready to go to the Senate for consideration. Sponsored by Assemblyman Paul Koretz, AB 352 passed the Assembly in 2005, but was put on hold until the technology could be proven to work. Assemblyman Koretz and Larry Keane, Executive Vice President of the Sporting Arms & Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) - an organization opposing the bill - discuss the pros and cons of the technology. Also joining the discussion is Dr. Donald Sebastian, senior vice president of the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
LACMA's New Director
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Earlier this spring the Los Angeles County Museum of Art board named Michael Govan its new director and CEO. His tenure was off to a good start when in April five Gustav Klimt paintings practically fell into his lap. Govan comes to Los Angeles via the Dia Art Foundation in New York. At Dia he nearly doubled the size of the collection, but what are his plans for LACMA? Govan joins Patt in studio to share his thoughts on art and the city of Los Angeles.
The Loh Life
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Commentator Sandra Tsing Loh thinks her husband can use a partner to join him in his daily shouting at Republicans who cross the TV screen, and she's found the perfect solution - a second wife for Mike.
Friday, May 26
FCC Investigates Video News Releases
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A report by the Center for Media and Democracy has spurred the FCC to investigate so called video news releases, packaged news pieces produced by a third party that look like objective news stories. The report found that over 70 television station nationwide had used the video news releases, including three stations in Southern California. Patt talks with Daniel Price, co-author of the report, "Fake TV news: widespread and undisclosed," about the practice and about the FCC investigation.
Mayor Villaraigosa Meets with President Fox
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When they meet this evening, LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Mexican
President Vicente Fox are expected to discuss tourism and trade - but not immigration. Villaraigosa says he won't bring up the hot-button topic because it's outside his control. Patt speaks with the mayor about tonight's meeting.
Captured! Inside the World of Celebrity Trials
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If eyes are the windows to the soul, what would an artist learn in the process of drawing them? As a courtroom artist for the past 25 years, Mona Shafer Edwards has witnessed thousands of high-profile trials, from Heidi Fleiss and Courtney Love, to O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson. With her markers, pens and pads of paper in hand, she has been well poised to see things others may not have noticed, a knitted brow, a defiant stare, tears being shed. Edwards joins host Patt Morrison to talk about her insights and illustrations, which have been collected in the new book: Captured! Inside the World of Celebrity Trials (Santa Monica Press).
Geminis vs. Virgos Behind the Wheel
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If you believe them, astrological signs govern personality, temperament and...now driving skills? Two insurance companies have assembled birthdate databases to see who the stars say are the worse drivers: Geminis or Virgos. Tip for the holiday - before you jump in the car this Memorial Day weekend, be sure to check the astrological sign of the driver. Patt's guest is Gahl Sasson, astrology and kabala expert.
New Caltech President
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Jean-Lou Chameau has been named the new president of the California Institute of Technology. Formerly the provost and vice president for academic affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology, he will take office on or before September 1. Chameau succeeds David Baltimore, who is stepping down from the presidency after nearly nine years in the post.
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