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April 2 - 6, 2007
Monday, April 2
Turning the Meth Tide
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Methamphetamine has gone from a relatively unknown drug to one of Southern California's biggest criminal and public health problems. While law enforcement officials fight one part of that battle, medical professionals are working on helping addicts quit. We'll hear from those who have suffered from meth's brutal effects, as well as the researchers tracking its spread and developing treatments. Guest host Frank Stoltze moderates.
- Richard Rawson, Associate Director and Professor-in-Residence at the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, and one of the founders of the Matrix Institute
- Holly Copeland has been clean for 7 years and 10 months, and currently works part-time for Matrix
- Christian Rivera has been clean for over a year, and completed the adolescent program at Matrix
- Stacy Yurk, Holly's older sister
- Deborah Service, Clinical Director of Matrix Rancho Cucamonga
Tuesday, April 3
Supreme Court Ruling - What's Next For California?
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Yesterday's Supreme Court ruling on global warming could help California triumph over the Alliance of Automobile Manufactures. The case has rested in a federal court in Fresno. But court wins are one thing, and actual implementation is another thing. Guest host Jon Beaupre talks about the potential hurdles to the emissions ruling.
- Janet Wilson: Staff Reporter, Los Angeles Times
Preview of IPCC Report, Part Two
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On Friday, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC - a network of more than 2,000 scientists - will issue part two of their report on how warming will affect the globe and whether humans can do anything about it. We get us a preview of their latest findings. - Andrew Revkin: Reporter covering environmental issues for The New York Times. His latest book is, The North Pole Was Here: Puzzles and Perils at the Top of the World (Kingfisher).
The Online Campaign
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So much has changed in this Presidential campaign. Early primaries; super Tuesday supplanted by Super-Duper Tuesday; record early Presidential campaign fundraising. Campaigns continue to evolve. Add the internet and the quick pace of online evolution, and a whole new campaign world unfolds. How are presidential hopefuls using the internet to further their campaigns?
Japanamerica
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Ever wonder where films like Kill Bill and The Matrix got their inspiration? Or why your son or daughter is more obsessed with the cartoon character Totoro than Mickey Mouse? Japanese culture has begun to infiltrate American society - and it's not just sushi and sake. A new wave of Japanese imagery and icons, such as anime and Pokemon, has become a part of popular culture in the United States, finding its way into American television, literature, movies and art. We take a look at the Japanese phenomena in America.
Wednesday, April 4
Southland Rents on the Rise
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Rents across the Southland are up, vacancy rates are down, and the mortgage market is in a slump, according to a new report released today by USC's Lusk Center for Real Estate. Meanwhile, tenants' rights advocates are demanding an increase in relocation assistance from City Hall. We take a look at both housing stories.
Pets' Rights
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Contaminated pet food is believed to have killed a dozen cats and dogs across the nation and sickened many more, sending pets and their owners into veterinary hospitals nationwide. Menu Foods of Canada produced the allegedly tainted food and has promised to pay for the vet bills of the animals harmed by its product. However, some pet owners say financial compensation for the vet bills does not take into account the emotional trauma and distress suffered by the affected pets and families. What rights do animals have? Most states, including California, say not many.
A Surgeon's Reflections on Mortality
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Transplant surgeon and former UCLA faculty member Pauline Chen began her career in medicine to help save lives. She learned along the way that death would play a considerable role in her work and that dealing with the day to day encounters of mortality would prove to be a daunting task. In Final Exam: A Surgeon's Reflections on Mortality, Chen recounts her career in medicine and her struggle with accepting death as part of her job.
- Pauline Chen: Author, Final Exam: A Surgeon's Reflections on Mortality (Knopf)
Thursday, April 5
CA Initiative to Get out of Iraq?
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California may become the first state in the nation to call on President Bush to immediately pull troops from Iraq as Senate President pro Tem Don Perata has unveiled a plan to place an advisory measure on the statewide ballot as part of the February 2008 presidential primary. The "Vote Us Out of Iraq" legislation will be introduced Monday in Sacramento but first must gain approval from both the senate and assembly as well as the governor before it is placed on the ballot.
Climate Panel says Warming is Due to Human Activities
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In the second part to the climate report that was released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in February, scientists have concluded with at least "90 percent certainty" that humans are responsible for raising temperatures around the globe. The panel has also noted that some results of higher temperatures are already occuring and include earlier bird migrations, shifts of species toward the poles and threshold changes in ecosystems. The report was an effort by scientists from around the world and details are being finalized in Brussels this week.
Biofuels - A Solution to King Oil?
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President Bush has been aggressively pursuing corn-based ethanol in his search for alternatives to oil. Experts say there are other options to consider - sugar-based and cellulosic ethanols, biobutanol, and biodiesel have been mentioned. What are the feasibility and economic impact of producing biofuels to reduce our dependence on oil? And how will the environment be affected?
Friday, April 6
Measure V Election In Sierra Madre
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Sierra Madre's upcoming Measure V election is a hot-button issue among the town's residents. If passed, Measure V would place further limits on building height and density in Sierra Madre's downtown area, presumably to preserve its small town character. Proponents claim that any exceptions to these limits will be put to vote by the people of Sierra Madre on an individual basis. Opponents of the measure say that the cost of these elections will place a great financial burden on the city, and that with such strict limitations downtown, developers may start building in residential areas instead. Guest host Ted Chen speaks to representatives of both sides of the issue to make sense of the possible consequences of this upcoming election.
- Kurt Zimmerman, Sierra Madre City Councilman
- Glen Lambdin, Resident and former Mayor of Sierre Madre
When Big Development Comes to Small Towns
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The controversy over ballot Measure V in Sierra Madre has shown how heated residents can become when development begins to happen in places that strive to keep an authentic small town feel. We take a look at the problems that can arise when growing towns start to become more like little cities.
- D.J. Waldie, Author and Essayist. His latest book is Where We Are Now: Notes From Los Angeles (Angel City)
Disneyland Opens its Doors to Same-Sex Wedding Ceremonies
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Once upon a time couples who wanted to partake in Disney's Fairytale Wedding Program at its theme parks and cruise ships had to show proof of a valid marriage license, making ceremonies unavailable to gay couples. But a happy ending may not be too far off for such nuptials now Walt Disney Co. has announced that it will include wedding services for same-sex marriages at its resorts in California, Florida and on its Disney cruises.
- Don Walker, Spokesman for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
- Eddie Shapiro, Co-author of Queens in the Kingdom: The Ultimate Gay and Lesbian Guide to the Disney Theme Parks (Alyson Publications)
George Wendt
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You may remember him best as the lovable bar-fly Norm from the hit sitcom Cheers, but now George Wendt has taken to the stage and is appearing in the classic play Twelve Angry Men. Wendt plays the role of the jury foreman in the critically acclaimed drama about 12 jurors who are forced to make the decision between one young man's life and death. He joins guest host Ted Chen to discuss the play and why its central themes still resonate today.
George Wendt is currently appearing in Twelve Angry Men which is running at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles now through May 6, 2007.
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