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November 8 - 12, 2004
Monday, Nov. 8
Joshua Tree National Park
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The Desert Protection Act expanded the size of Joshua Tree by about 40 percent and upgraded its status from a national monument to a national park, a promotion that resulted in an additional 1.3 million visitors a year. Despite the good news, Joshua Tree is in trouble – its under funded and understaffed and is listed as one of the country's most endangered parks by the National Parks Conservation Association. Kitty talks with Joshua Tree superintendent Curt Sauer about the challenges facing Joshua Tree today. For more information: Joshua Tree Tenth Anniversary; Joshua Tree National Park Association; and Park Stewardship Through the Arts.
Balancing Preservation and Development
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President Clinton signed the Desert Protection Act into law in 1994, preserving 7.7 million acres of California desert. To proponents, it created a sanctuary for unspoiled land, but local residents resent the limits to off-road exploration. And developers see the land as a crucial alternative to our crowded metropolises. Kitty moderates a discussion on the future of our wilderness. How can we best protect the spirit of the desert protection act while balancing the need for development and the rights of local residents? Her guests include: Linda Hansen, Director of the California desert district of the Bureau of Land Management; Michael Connor, Executive Director of the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee and Desert Tortoise Council; and Randy Scott, Division Chief for the advanced planning division of the land use services department for San Bernadino County.
29 Palms Annual Weed Show
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Legend has it that in 1940 when the women's club of 29 Palms invited a Pasadena printmaker to deliver a lecture, they were deeply embarrassed by the lack of fresh flowers with which to decorate the podium. The guest is reputed to have said, "why do you need fresh flowers when you have so many beautiful weeds?" And thus was born the 29 Palms annual weed show, an art show featuring artistic arrangements of indigenous desert vegetation mixed with found and man-made objects. This year the theme of the art show is the 10th anniversary of the desert protection act. Kitty sits down with Jim Wharff, the chair of the weed show, and Gerry Gates, the winner of this year's people's choice award.
Tuesday, Nov. 9
Shark Killed at the Aquarium of the Pacific
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Last night, vandals tortured and killed a shark at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. A ray was also killed and a second shark is barely alive. The nurse shark, bamboo shark and cow-nosed ray were dragged from their touch tanks and tortured, then left for dead. Kitty talks with Jerry Schubel, CEO of the aquarium, about the incident.
John Garamendi on Anthem-WellPoint merger
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The state's insurance commissioner gave his blessing Tuesday to a $16.4 billion merger that would create the nation's largest health insurance company. This after he had negotiated hundreds of millions of dollars out of the companies involved that he claims would be used to improve health care for all Californians.
Dumping LA County Trash at Joshua Tree
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Claiming that two 50-year-old laws are on their side, environmental groups launched a campaign Wednesday seeking the return of 30,000 acres to Joshua Tree National Park. The goal of the campaign is to get Congress to preserve the land under park ownership and, by doing so, stop an iron-ore pit on the land - within a few miles of the park's wilderness areas - from becoming one of the nation's largest landfills. Dennis Arcuri, legislative assistant to Riverside County Supervisor Roy Wilson; environmentalist Donna Charpied; and Don Neller of the LA County Department of Sanitation review the issues.
The Dodgers: 120 Years of Dodger History
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Authors Glenn Stout and Richard A. Johnson tell the Dodgers' story in its entirety, from the team's birth in Brooklyn in 1884 and its early glories, to the heart-wrenching move to Los Angeles in 1958, and to the present day. Their colorful past — remember "dem bums," Jackie Robinson and the boys of summer, Walter O'Malley, Sandy Koufax, Tommy Lasorda, "bleeding Dodger blue" — has lent distinction and pizzazz to the game of baseball. Glenn Stout shares this history with Kitty.
Play by Play – A Century of L.A. Sports Photography, 1889-1989
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Some of the most memorable events, people and places of Los Angeles' sports history are on display in the unprecedented photography exhibition "Play by Play: A Century of Sports Photography, 1889-1989," at the downtown Central Library. Longtime LA sports writer and curator of the show, David Davis tours Kitty through the images, many of which have not been seen by the public in over a century.
On view October 16, 2004 – March 27, 2005 at the or Los Angeles Public Library's Getty Gallery and First Floor Galleries. For information, call 213-228-7040. David Davis will be signing books Dec. 6, 12-1pm at the LA Central Library bookstore.
Wednesday, Nov. 10
America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction
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Kitty sits down with the funnyman behind funnyman Jon Stewart. David Javerbaum is head writer and supervising producer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Their latest bestseller of fake news is called, America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction (Warner books).
Thursday, Nov. 11
LA Mayor's Race
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KPCC reporter Frank Stoltze and Kitty Felde look ahead to the mayor’s race in March 2005. This Saturday is the last day for candidates to file a declaration of intent.
Finding Neverland
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Turn-of-the-century London is recreated in this magical story about the friendship between J.M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan, and the four young boys and single mother who live next door to him. Starring Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Dustin Hoffman and Julie Christie, Finding Neverland is already garnering high regards from critics and is one of the most anticipated films of the fall season.
Finding Neverland opens in LA and NY on November 12.
The Loh Life
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The election is finally over! Commentator Sandra Tsing Loh celebrates the end.
Friday, Nov. 12
Gourmet's Ruth Reichl
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Kitty Felde breaks bread with Gourmet editor-in-chief and Talk of the City favorite, Ruth Reichl.
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