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September 11 - 15, 2006
Monday, Sept. 11
September 11th Through Young People's Eyes
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For many people, the attacks of September 11th changed everything, but for those who were teens or even children at the time, a world of orange alerts is the only world they know. Five years later as this generation enters adulthood what do they make of politics, fear, and terrorism? Patt speaks with Laura Spann and Andrew Lee, students at Claremont McKenna College, Matthew Schechter and Natalie Nordseth, students at Loyola Marymount University, and Will Carter, a recent graduate of Occidental College.
Tuesday, Sept. 12
Gang Racketeering Case
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The U.S. Attorney's Office announced the arrests today of Southland street gang members facing federal drug and racketeering charges. Patt gets the latest from Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney George S. Cardona.
Left in the Dust
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In 1913 in order to accommodate urban growth, a concrete aqueduct was opened which was used to redistribute the water from the Owens River to Los Angeles. As Owens Lake was drained, water was replaced by dust containing toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, nickel, and selenium. For eighty years Owens Valley residents were left to breathe the poisoned air which has been recently documented to increase the risk of cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, hypertension, lupus, pneumonia, and asthma. Karen Piper, a victim of this environmental disaster, joins Patt Morrison to discuss her new book Left in the Dust: How Race and Politics Created a Human and Environmental Tragedy in L.A. (Palgrave Macmillan).
Arnoldgate?
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Last week audio of Governor Schwarzenegger referring to a lawmaker as "hot" was leaked to the media. Today news broke that it was actually the rival Angelides camp who found the audio. To make sense of the commotion, Patt checks in with Carla Marinucci, Political Writer for the San Francisco Chronicle.
iTunes to offer Movie Downloads and a Lot More
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Visitors to Apple's iTunes music store this morning were not able to download the week's newest releases - the site simply displayed the words "It's Showtime". Today at a news conference CEO Steve Jobs announced that customers will now be able to download movies from the site for under ten bucks. But that's not all - they unveiled a device that will bridge the gap from computer screen to television. Ina Fried, Senior Writer at CNET news.com was there and gives Patt the latest.
Wednesday, Sept. 13
California's Exclusive Electorate
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For the first time in modern history, the number of Californians not affiliated with a major party is lower than those who claim a "D" or "R" next to their name on the voting rolls. This is according to a new study issued today by the Public Policy Institute of California. PPIC senior fellow, Mark Baldassare, joins Patt to discuss the trends.
The Major Parties Respond
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Political strategists Bob Mulholland and Arnold Steinberg talk about the PPIC findings and what they mean for the state Democratic and Republican parties.
El Niño has Formed
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Today the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that an El Niño has formed and will last into 2007. What does that mean for weather around the Southland? Patt asks Bill Patzert, Climatologist and research oceanographer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The Black Dahlia - The Novel
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To crime writer James Ellroy, the brief life and horrific death of aspiring actress Elizabeth Short is a classic American tragedy. His classic novel dealing with the murder, The Black Dahlia (Mysterious Press), is out this month in a new edition, coinciding with the release of the film by the same name. Ellroy talks with Patt about his novel, which is based on this most famous unsolved murder in Los Angeles history.
Mr. Ellroy's upcoming talks and signings:
Wednesday, 9/13, 7:30 pm, Barnes & Noble, The Grove.
Saturday, 9/16, 4:00 pm, Borders, Century City.
Tuesday, 9/19, 7:00 pm, Vroman's, Pasadena.
Black Dahlia - Truth and Fiction
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There are theories, theories, and more theories about the Black Dahlia murder. Larry Harnisch has made it a personal quest to find out the truth behind myth and fantasy surrounding the horrific death of Elizabeth Short, and he shares what he has learned with Patt.
Thursday, Sept. 14
Port Security Measure Passes Senate
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As part of the legislatures' pre-election push for beefed up security, the Senate unanimously passed a bill that would require 100% scanning of all cargo entering US ports. Congressman Dan Lungren (R-CA) joins Patt to discuss what action the House will take.
A Changing Public Health Department
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Today the Governor announced a $9 million state grant that will be added to $6 million already secured from the Defense Department to build a first-of-its-kind public health lab at UCLA. He also signed SB 162, which establishes a new Department of Public Health within the California Health and Human Services Agency. Senator Deborah Ortiz, author of the bill, and Dean Linda Rosenstock of the UCLA School of Public Health, join Patt with details.
The U.S. vs. John Lennon
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In a new documentary titled, The U.S. vs. John Lennon, filmmakers David Leaf and John Scheinfeld explore the tension between the government and this great songwriter as he transforms into antiwar activist. They join Patt in studio.
The Magic of Hollywood
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Milt Larsen and his late brother Bill Larsen became famous for the many different roles they played in television, both on and off-screen, but are best known in Hollywood as the creators of the Magic Castle, a clubhouse for magicians to trade secrets and ideas. This Friday, September 15, Milt and Bill Larsen will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to celebrate their contributions to the world of magic. Milt Larsen joins Patt to discuss this honor and his upcoming It's Magic! 50th Anniversary Show.
Friday, Sept. 15
Schwarzenegger Too Slow Spending Emergency Preparedness Grants?
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The California State Auditor Report for 2005-2006 asserts that both the Governor's Office of Emergency Services and the Governor's Office of Homeland Security have been slow in spending federal grant awards for homeland security. The same report also claims that California's organizational structure for ensuring emergency preparedness is "neither streamlined nor well-defined". What does this mean for Californians and what is the Schwarzenegger administration doing to amend such inefficiencies?
Government Getting Hands-On About Hands-Free
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Earlier today Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill that will mandate the use of hands-free cell phone devices while driving. Beginning in July of 2008 officers could begin to give out tickets with a minimum fine of $20 for motorists caught trying to navigate the state's roads with one hand on the phone. Patt takes a look at how this law is playing out for drivers in our nation's capital and gets a glimpse of hands-free technology to come.
Nora Ephron on Being a Woman
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Writer/director Nora Ephron says about aging - "Get used to it." And readers agree that when she's talking about the indignities and annoyances of getting older, she strikes a nerve. She joins Patt to talk about her new collection of essays.
- Nora Ephron: Writer/Director and author, I Feel Bad About My Neck and Other Thoughts on Being a Woman (Knopf).
What's in a Name?
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Is a rose by any other name still a rose? Fans of Xena, the dwarf planet discovered in 2005, may not be so happy with its new moniker, Eris, as she is the Greek goddess of discord and strife. Patt talks about the seemingly odd choice.
- Michael Brown: Professor of planetary astronomy at Caltech and one of the astronomers who discovered the dwarf planet formerly known as Xena.
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