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June 18 - 22, 2007
Monday, June 18
Times/Bloomberg poll and the Democratic Disconnect
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Recent polls show that if the general election were held today, Hillary Clinton would lose to McCain, Giuliani or Romney. Senator Barack Obama, on the other hand, would beat any of the Republicans in a theoretical match-up, even as he slips further behind Clinton in polls of Democrats. Why the disconnect between primary and general election results?
- Ken Rudin, Political Editor for NPR and writer for the online column, Political Junkie.
- Chris Lehane, Democratic Consultant and partner with California-based strategic communication firm Fabiani & Lehane.
A Journey into the Future of a Rising Power
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As China's power and influence around the world continue to grow, many questions have emerged as Westerners are eager to understand more about its dynamic society and economy. NPR's Rob Gifford lived in China for over 20 years and was the Beijing Correspondent from 1999-2005. His new book, China Road: A Journey into the Future of a Rising Power (Random House) details a journey across China's equivalent to Route 66 in hopes of revealing another side of the nation of 1.3 billion. Chinese Route 312 runs 3,000 miles from Shanghai in the east to the Kazakhstan border in the far west and China Road profiles the changing lives of real people living along the road in the nation's heartland.
- Rob Gifford, author of China Road: A Journey into the Future of a Rising Power (Random House), and NPR's London correspondent.
The Last Great Mafia Trial
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The "Family Secrets" mob trial starts tomorrow in Chicago, and it could spell the end of the organized crime family started by Al Capone in the 1930's and passed down to successive generations of gangsters. Anyone who saw the Martin Scorsese movie Casino will be familiar with the story of the Chicago-based mafia's early grip on Las Vegas-the movie was based on this crime family led by James Marcello, who is the lead defendant. The trial, expected to last as long as four months, will feature high-ranking turncoats, a parade of prosecution witnesses that includes hit men, pornographers, bookies, career burglars, gamblers and other mob associates who are expected to testify about their dealings with the organization known as the "Outfit." Patt covers the gory details, complete with colorful mob nicknames, or what could be this generation's last great mob trial.
- Jeff Coen, staff reporter for the Chicago Tribune who is covering the trial.
- Lee Flosi, Executive Vice President and general counsel of Quest Consultants International. Flosi is a 28-year-veteran of the FBI and former commander of the Chicago Organized Crime Task Force.
Tuesday, June 19
Bratton Confirmed for 2nd Term
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Despite recent controversies involving police conduct, LAPD Police Chief William Bratton has been approved for a second 5-year term. The five-member Los Angeles Police Commission unanimously voted him in, making him the first police chief in years to be appointed to a second term. He is credited with presiding over a reduction in violent crime and working with civic leaders to improve race relations.
- Frank Stoltze, KPCC reporter
Peak Oil--When Will the World Run Out of Black Gold?
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Nothing is more hotly debated in energy circles - and either anticipated or dreaded, depending on your perspective - than the notion of "peak oil." The term refers to the date when the peak of the world's conventional petroleum production rate is reached. After this date the rate of production is predicted to enter terminal decline. Last week two well respected energy analyst groups reached two drastically differing conclusions on peak oil - one found that the world still has enough proven reserve to provide another 40 years of oil consumption, while another concluded that oil production will peak in four years. Which estimate is right, what is the science behind these predictions, and why the large discrepancy?
Weighted Words
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Peak oil. Genocide. Recession. Civil War. All are words that invoke feelings and emotions, summarizing a complex situation in one short phrase. Who decides when to use these phrases and what complicates these decisions? How did these words take on such loaded meanings? How do people use these words for their own personal gain? Patt takes a look how terms are applied to circumstances, answering these questions and more with linguist Geoffrey Nunberg.
Supreme Court Nears End of Term
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The justices have 10 opinions to issue over the next ten days or so, including big cases on race in schools, student speech rights and campaign finance. Patt gets a preview.
- David Savage, Supreme Court Reporter for the LA Times.
Vatican Issues Ten Commandments for Drivers
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The Vatican's office for migrants and itinerant people decided that since driving has become such an important part of contemporary life, the time has come to release a document outlining how to prevent automobiles from becoming "occasions of sin." The Pope's "Drivers' Ten Commandments" covers everything from speeding to supporting the families of accident victims... and of course praying and forgiveness.
1. You shall not kill.
2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
5. Cars shall not be for you and expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
7. Support the families of accident victims.
8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
10. Feel responsible towards others.
Wednesday, June 20
Strike Two: Grocer Talks with Unions Face Thursday Deadline
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The last time Southern California grocery workers went on strike they were manning the picket lines for 5 grueling months that inconvenienced millions of shoppers, cost millions of dollars in sales and devastated the families of many workers. The 3-year contract that ended the last strike expired on March 5th of this year, and now negotiators face a deadline tomorrow to reach a new agreement. What are the issues between unions and the three major grocery chains, and what are the prospects for another strike?
No Place to Hide: Regulating Radio Frequency Tracking Chips
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It sounds like the stuff of a science fiction novel. Radio frequency identification devices implanted in children so that parents can track their movements; school districts issuing their students chip-equipped IDs to track their attendance; the DMV putting tracking chips in drivers licenses that could be used to monitor driving behavior. One state lawmaker has envisioned the future of tracking devices becoming increasingly widespread and accessible, and is working toward putting strict regulations in place to control the use of this technology. Is it right to ban this type of technology or should we embrace the future?
Gesundheit! The Surge of Modern Allergies.
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Allergy symptoms can range from a mild irritation to life-threatening anaphylactic shock. Often thought of as a childhood affliction, they are becoming increasingly prevalent in adults. An estimated 40 percent of Americans inherit a genetic predisposition to allergies, with 14 percent enduring hay fever and 3.5 percent reacting to food. Why are more people suffering? What are the latest treatments? Patt asks medical researchers and invites questions from KPCC's listeners.
Ready! Aim! Fuego... 500 Years Ago?
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Looks like gun violence goes back further than anyone thought. Archaeologist Guillermo Cock was working near Lima, Peru, when he unearthed a 500-year-old skull with a small round hole in it. Apparently the victim was an ancient Inca who died at the hands of Spanish Conquistadors. Scientists in the U.S. found fragments of metal in the skull from a musket ball, proving that it was a gun that killed this ancient Peruvian. Patt discusses the discovery, which is the oldest evidence of a gunshot victim to date.
Thursday, June 21
Democrats Compromise on Healthcare
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California's leading democratic legislators came to an agreement on a healthcare proposal for the state that would require employers to spend 7.5% of payroll costs on care for employees. The bill was put forth by members of the state senate and the assembly and rejects Governor Schwarzenegger's proposal for mandatory insurance for all Californians.
- KPCC Sacramento Reporter Julie Small
Summer's Here...
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The blazing sun. The scorching heat. The sticky humidity. The rolling blackouts? As temperatures climb and air conditioners are at a constant hum, Patt Morrison gets the low-down on Southern California's summer energy supply and asks just how hot can we expect it to be?
Investigating the Murders of Journalists in Russia
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The Russian journalist was shot dead in an elevator - she had written critically about the government. Anna Politkovskaya was at least the 13th Russian Journalist to be murdered since Vladimir Putin came to power. Another fell to his death from a window - he was reporting on a Russian weapons sale. The new economic openness in Russia has created a journalistic openness - but the backlash against press freedom has taken a bloody toll. A few days ago, U.S. Congressman Smith (R-NJ) introduced a resolution calling on Russia to accept outside aid to investigate the murders. Will it make any difference?
Friday, June 22
King Harbor Medical Center -- End Game?
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The end is near for Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital, as state regulators move to revoke the hospital's license in the wake of an incident in which a woman was left to bleed to death in the emergency room. While the move itself is unlikely to shutter the beleaguered hospital, it ratchets up pressure on the county to vote for a coup de grace. Patt talks to officials about the future, or lack of, for King-Harbor.
Abuse of Handicap Placards in California?
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Handicap parking spaces used to be seen as sacred turf, exclusively reserved for the truly disabled people in society. According to statistics from the California DMV, more than one in 10 California motorists are disabled, meaning 2.6 million out of about 23 million licensed drivers in the state are in possession of handicap parking placards. Those outrageous numbers translate into widespread abuse of the handicap placard process, and there isn't much being done to stop it. Are 11% of California drivers really disabled?
N*GGER WETB*CK CH*NK
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Back in 2004, a trio of UCLA theater students had their peers lining up for blocks around the Freud Playhouse in Westwood. Their comedic play, N*GGER WETB*CK CH*NK, based upon their own experiences of growing up as minorities in Southern California, provided a unique blend of theater, hip-hop, poetry and history. After touring the country, the play has been met with rave reviews for its irreverent and humorous take on race relations in America. The cast joins Patt to talk about bringing the play back to its L.A. roots.
- Rafael Augustin, Allan Axibal, and Miles Ellington Gregley: Performers and Co-Writers, N*GGER WETB*CK CH*NK
N*GGER WETB*CK CH*NK is playing at the Ivar Theater, 1605 Ivar Ave., in Hollywood. For tickets and more information, visit www.NWClive.com.
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