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March 26 - 30, 2007
Monday, March 26
Former Bangladeshi Diplomat to Be Deported Tonight
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U.S. immigration authorities expect to deport a former Bangladeshi diplomat from Los Angeles this evening. A court in Bangladesh convicted him of taking part in the assassination of the country's first leader over 30 years ago. He could be hanged when he gets home. KPCC reporter Frank Stoltze has been following the tribulations of Mohiuddin Ahmed.
- Frank Stoltze, KPCC reporter
Surprise Results in Angioplasty Study
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More than half a million people a year with chest pain are getting an unnecessary or premature procedure to unclog their arteries because drugs are just as effective, suggests a landmark study that challenges one of the most common practices in heart cases.
Monkey Business
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Okay, they're actually apes, not monkeys, but they're still fascinating creatures and our closest relatives on the evolutionary timeline. Last week in Chicago scientists held an international conference to study chimpanzees and exchange research on exactly how smart they are and how their thinking resembles our own. New research shows that, at least in some ways, chimpanzees may be smarter than a typical human. Elizabeth Londsdorf is the director of the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. She's joins us to try and answer the question: what exactly goes on in the mind of a chimpanzee?
The Ultimate Tourist
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He loves New York, London and Paris, but Los Angeles is the city that calls him back year after year. German blogger Martin Schall loves the architecture of Los Angeles so much that he's produced a Web site you-are-here.com featuring hundreds of his photos of the city's structures. Patt talks to this German tourist about his obsession with the Southland.
Tuesday, March 27
Southern California Invades Washington
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During a trip to the capital to lobby for more federal funds, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will not be the only Angeleno asking for assistance from Washington. The mayors of Santa Monica and Anaheim will also make the trip along with a handful of Los Angeles City Council members and representatives from the LAUSD, including LAUSD Board President Marlene Canter. All in all, almost 200 people from the Southland will take part in the "Access Washington" excursion, organized in part by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and the Orange County Business Council, each with their own agenda for lawmakers and others in Washington.
Former Bangladeshi Deportation Delayed
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A former Bangladeshi diplomat threatened with deportation to his home country has been granted a 7-day stay. Mohiuddin Ahmed was convicted by a court in Bangladesh for taking part in the assassination of the country's first leader over 30 years ago. He could be hanged when he gets home. His family hopes to find a third country that will take him in the next week. KPCC reporter Frank Stoltze shares the latest information.
- Frank Stoltze, KPCC reporter
Daycare Study
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A long-term study of children aimed at resolving disputes over whether daycare is harmful has found that subtle effects on behavior and vocabulary can last until fifth or sixth grade. The good news, kids who spent a lot of time in high quality daycare have better vocabularies than their lower quality daycare counterparts. The bad news, teachers report kids in daycare are typically more aggressive. Patt Morrison speaks with UNC Research Psychologist and co-author of the study Margaret Burchinal and L.A. Parent Magazine editor Carolyn Graham.
- Margaret Burchinal, Research Psychologist, University of North Carolina at the FPG Child Development Center
- Carolyn Graham, editor, L.A. Parent Magazine
Senate passes Iraq Bill
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The Senate today narrowly passed a non-binding resolution that sets a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq by March 2008. Although Pres. Bush said he will veto any legislation that sets a troop timetable, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says this bill - passed by a 50 to 48 vote - sends a clear message to the president to find a new way out of this "intractable" war.
Wednesday, March 28
California Voting Machines
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Secretary of State Debra Bowen has proposed a plan to conduct a top-to-bottom test on all electronic voting machines in California. But can it be finished in time for the state's earlier primary elections in 2008? And how will counties respond if the machines they've already purchased don't pass the test? We speak with guests about the roughly drafted plan.
Report from Iran
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As the story of 15 British sailors captured by Iranian authorities continues to unfurl today, Patt speaks with two reporters - one based in London and the other in Tehran - to discuss the political emotions and ramifications in Great Britain and Iran.
The Accidental Mind
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David Linden calls the human brain a kludge - a mismatched conglomeration of parts built upon layers and layers of evolutionary history into a strange and inefficient whole. In his book, The Accidental Mind: How Brain Evolution Has Given Us Love, Memory, Dreams, and God, Linden challenges the belief that the human brain is a paragon of design and shows that the constraints of its disorganization have led to humanity's basic qualities.
Thursday, March 29
Gang Charges Over the Top?
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Defense lawyers in cases involving alleged gang members are concerned that prosecutors are bringing excessive charges against their clients in order to enhance jail time for those convicted. How do these tactics fit into the war on street gangs, and what does LA County's district attorney see as the impact?
Sampson Deals Another Blow to Gonzales' Story
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Attorney General Alberto Gonzales denied he was deeply involved in the firing of eight federal prosecutors, but his former top aide, D. Kyle Sampson, said Thursday that the final decision on who was to be dismissed was made by Gonzales and President Bush's former counsel, Harriet Miers.
- Rick Schmitt, reporting from Washington for the Los Angeles Times. He was at the hearings this morning.
- John Dean, author and former counsel to President Richard Nixon
Equal Rights Amendment Revived
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This week, House and Senate Democrats reintroduced the Equal Rights Amendment in Congress, vowing to bring it to a vote by the end of the legislative session. It's the first new push by lawmakers since the measure, a major goal of the feminist movement, fell three states short of ratification in 1985. But do we still need an Equal Rights Amendment? Patt Morrison speaks with experts about what went awry 25 years ago and what relevance the measure has today.
Friday, March 30
LAUSD and Green Dot Clash
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Three members of the LAUSD Board of Education voted Thursday to block an application by the city's leading charter school operators to open 8 new schools in the Watts neighborhood around Locke High School. Critics say the move was influenced by the teacher's union and may actually violate state law. The unexpected split-vote infuriated Green Dot's Founder, Steve Barr, who vowed to appeal the decision to county education officials. Patt talks with Steve Barr and Board Member Julie Korenstein about this latest clash.
Calls for CHP Commisioner to Step Down
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California Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia (R- Cathedral City) have called for California Highway Patrol commissioner Mike Brown's resignation. The legislators' demands come after the CHP has encountered several problems including a spike in suicide rates among officers, alleged misconduct by command officers and Brown's questionable use of a CHP helicopter.
Cars and the Consumer
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In late 1908, the Model T entered the world. Life has not been the same. As we mark the passing of legendary car enthusiast Robert Petersen, we take a moment to assess how our relationship to cars evolved over the years - does the automobile hold the same place in our lives as it once did? She asks this and more of our listeners and our guests, including the current director of the Petersen Automotive Museum, Dick Messer.
UCLA in the Final Four!
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For the second year in a row, the UCLA Bruins are competing in Saturday's Final Four basketball tournament in hopes of making it all the way to their 18th NCAA Championship. But before they make it to the final game, they face the Florida Gators, the same team that defeated the Bruins for the 2006 Championship. Will the Bruins comeback for revenge on Florida? Do they have what it takes to defeat the favored Gators? Patt gets the stats from two sports experts, including a writer from the Daily Bruin who is traveling with the team in Atlanta.
Wine Lovers Winner
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Patt announces the winner of KPCC's Wine Lover's sweepstakes.
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