With many Congressional aides furloughed, and not much happening at the Capitol, some lawmakers are taking constituent calls personally; calls that would usually be answered by staffers.

Many government workers aren't going to work this morning because of the continued federal shutdown. Besides those employees, the shutdown is hitting a lot of peripheral businesses.

KPCC's Ben Bergman joins the show to talk about his interview with Dodgers announcer Vin Scully and the possibility that he'll retire after the 2014 season.

The verdict yesterday that AEG was not responsible for Michael Jackson's death was met with outcry from fans.

Alex profiles the 5-year-old space that has hosted the likes of Beck, Divine Fits, and Janelle Monáe, in addition to many working musicians in L.A.

It's Thursday and that means it's time for State of Affairs, our look at politics and government throughout California. To help us with that we're joined in studio now by KPCC political reporter Alice Walton and editor Oscar Garza.

The underground website, The Silk Road, was known as the Amazon of illegal drugs. Yesterday, the FBI arrested the alleged founder of the Silk Road, a 29-year-old named Ross William Ulbricht.

Every week we get your weekend conversation starters with Rico Gagliano and Brendan Newnam, the hosts of the Dinner Party podcast and radio show.

Here to help us strategize our Sunday is Lesley Bargar-Suter, dine editor for Los Angeles Magazine, who recently published a guide to LA brunches.