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Appeals Court lifts ban on homeless living in cars

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Gentrification Sparks Culture Clash In Venice Beach

In this file photo, a skater passes a van where a homeless person is sleeping July 13, 2004 in Venice, California. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that a 1983 law prohibiting people from sleeping overnight in their vehicles was vaguely written and discriminates against homeless and poor people.; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

Cheyenne Desertrain and fellow homeless brought suit against the City of Los Angeles to maintain their ability to sleep in their cars without being arrested or ticketed by police. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the city’s ordinance, banning people from living in cars or recreational vehicles on city streets or in parking lots, as unconstitutionally vague. Many non-homeless residents in Venice feel this makes their streets unsafe. Others say, Venice homeless are part of the neighborhoods eclectic population.

Guest:

Carol Sobel, a lawyer based in Santa Monica, that represented the plaintiffs in the lawsuit

 

 

 


FAQ: How to NOT be a jerk at an outdoor movie

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Cinespia

A crowd settles in for a screening of Lolita at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. ; Credit: Julian Bleeker/Flickr Creative Commons

It's no secret that Los Angeles is host to some fantastic outdoor film screening opportunities this summer.

Whether you’re a fan of the classics at Cinespia’s Hollywood Forever Cemetery screenings or prefer the food truck scene in Grand Park, there are unspoken rules that govern outdoor movie showings. 

For Friday's AirTalk, we want to hear from you: What are your outdoor movie pet peeves? How do you make the most out of L.A.’s outdoor film showings?

Post your comments below and answer our poll! Then tune in tomorrow to hear the segment with guest host Patt Morrison!

 

<a href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/8135947/">What is the most annoying thing people do at outdoor movie screening?</a>
basic etiquette tips:
  • Don’t take up too much blanket space
  • Don’t block other people’s views -- low chairs only
  • Don’t drink...too much
  • Phones off: Instagram that pre-show sunset and then shut it down
  • Keep the PDA in the back row (or on the screen)
  • Keep smells to a minimum: no cooking, no smoking, no open flames

In other words, don't be THESE guys: 

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Glenn Greenwald: government surveillance one year after the Snowden files

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It's been one year since the scope and ambition of the National Security Agency were first exposed to the world through documents obtained by Edward Snowden and published in the Guardian newspaper. In the new book, "No Place to Hide," Glenn Greenwald, award-winning journalist and one of the principals in this ongoing saga, recounts from the moment in May 2013 when he set out for Hong Kong to meet Snowden to the impact the leaked files have had on public discourse on  privacy and government surveillance since their release.

Going beyond the NSA, Greenwald also takes on the mainstream media for its risk aversion and for not fulfilling its duty to serve the people. Finally, he asks what it means both for individuals and for a nation's political health when a government pries so invasively into the private lives of its citizens.

 

Guest:

 

Glenn Greenwald, author of “No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA and the U.S. Surveillance State (Metropolitan Books, 2014). He won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for the series of stories published in the Guardian on the NSA

 

California textbooks: Should politicians have any influence over their content?

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A pile of textbooks.; Credit: By djfoobarmatt via flickr / Creative Commons

Assemblyman Chris Holden (D), has a bill asking the state Board of Education to add the election of Barack Obama to the public school curriculum. It appears to be a pretty benign request.

Especially, since inclusion of Barack Obama’s historic election would seem to be a no-brainer. But, what if a politician wanted to include racist propaganda? Critics say, the idea that politicians, who might have agendas, should have influence over what children read and learn in school, is bad for education because it could be too biased.

Also, it’s said in California, textbooks must show senior citizens as in-shape and active, regardless of the reality that many seniors face health issues and even poverty -- this imposed by politicians to avoid any hint of stereotyping.

While avoiding putting people in boxes might be noble, and ensuring the story of America’s first black president is included in kids’ textbooks might feel right, should politicians have a say in what our kids are reading in their textbooks? Or should it be left to educators and academic experts? Should citizens have a say?

Guest: 

Brad J. Porfilio, associate professor at Lewis University

 

Filmweek: Jersey Boys, Third Person, Hellion and more:

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"Jersey Boys" New York Special Screening - Dinner

John Lloyd Young and Michael Lomenda attend the "Jersey Boys" Special Screening dinner at Angelo Galasso House on June 9, 2014 in New York City.; Credit: Mireya Acierto/Getty Images

Patt Morrison and KPCC film critics Henry Sheehan and Andy Klein review this week’s releases, including Jersey Boys, Third Person, Hellion and more. TGI-Filmweek!

Jersey Boys:

Third Person

Hellion

Guests:

Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and CriticsAGoGo.com

Andy Klein, film critic for KPCC and the L.A. Times Community Papers chain

Presbyterian embrace of gay marriage

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The Pasadena Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, CA.; Credit: Clinton Steeds/flickr

The Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA), a mainline protestant group, has a membership of 1.9 million. That membership just voted to change its constitution’s definition of marriage to mean between “two people” instead of between “a man and a woman” and has given ministers permission to marry same-sex couples where it is legal.

As recently as 2008, the church barred its pastors from marrying same-sex couples, so what’s changed in the past six years?

Guest:

Richard Flory, Director of Research at the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture

Should minors convicted for sex crimes be given harsher sentences?

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Senator Jim Beall authored SB 131 that would extend the statute of limitations for victims of sexual abuse in California.

Senator Jim Beall authored SB 131 that would extend the statute of limitations for victims of sexual abuse in California.; Credit: Sammy Dee/Flickr

California's Assembly Public Safety Committee is slated to vote on a proposed bill tomorrow that would give mandatory sentences to minors convicted of sexually assaulting unconscious or disabled victims.

SB 838, or Audrie’s Law, is named after Audrie Pott, a Bay Area teenager who committed suicide nearly two years ago after she passed out and was sexually assaulted by three 16-year-old boys. The perpetrators took and shared photos of the assault via social media. The three boys received light sentences for the attack, because they were all minors at the time.

In addition to a two-year mandatory sentence, the proposed law would require the convicted minor to serve an additional one year if photos or texts of the assault had been taken or shared. More than 140,000 people have signed a Change.org petition supporting the bill, which passed the state Senate unanimously.

Opponents of the bill, including groups such as the Sacramento-based California Attorneys for Criminal Justice and the California County Public Defender, say the bill is too harsh and one-size-fits-all.

The committee hearing for the bill was set for last week but was postponed to tomorrow by committee chair Tom Ammiano, who called for the bill to be amended to increase its chances of passage.

Guests:

Jim Beall (D-San Jose), California State Senator representing Senate District 15, which includes the cities of Cupertino, Los Gatos, and the San Jose communities of Evergreen, East San Jose. He is the author of SB 838, also called Audrie’s Law

Jeff Adachi, Public Defender of the City and County of San Francisco. Adachi is the states only elected public defender

 

KPCC launches #pricecheck project on health care cost transparency

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Florida Doctor Sees Patients As House Debates Health Care Reform Repeal Act

Dr. Olveen Carrasquillo, Chief of General Internal Medicine University of Miami, wears a stethoscope as he conducts a checkup on Juan Gonzalez at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. ; Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Have you ever gone to the doctor or hospital for a routine test or procedure, and later received a shockingly high bill?

Today, KPCC lauches Price Check, a collaboration with KQED and Clearhealthcosts.com, a health costs transparency company that has been gathering cost data on a variety of medical tests, procedures and services from around the country.

See more about Price Check in Rebecca Plevin's blog post, and join the conversation about health cost transparency on the Price Check page

Guests:

Jeanne Pinder, founder and CEO of Clear Health Costs

Rebecca Plevin, KPCC Health Reporter


Explore fossils and the ice age at the La Brea Tar Pits

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la brea tar pits

; Credit: Photo by Graham via Flickr Creative Commons

The Observation Pit at the La Brea Tar Pits will reopen this weekend after being closed to the public for decades. The pit will allow museum visitors a closer look at excavations just 15 feet below the observation area. The La Brea Tar Pits are home to some of the nation’s richest fossil collections -- the introduction of the Page Museum’s excavator tour offers a more comprehensive glimpse of the Ice Age in Los Angeles.

Chief Curator John Harris says that the openings at the Page Museum will allow the public to “see what the excavators see,” close up looks at fossils from saber tooth tigers, mastodoons, and other animals preserved in the tar. What will archaeologists and visitors learn from the new observation areas at the La Brea Tar Pits?

Guest:

Aisling Farrell, Collections Manager at Rancho La Brea tar pits

Proposition 187, 20 years later

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Mayor Garcetti And Gov. Brown Sign Bill Allowing Illegal Immigrants Driver's License Eligibility

California Governor Jerry Brown (R) celebrates with Democratic State Senator Kevin de Leon (L) and Los Angeles councilman Gil Cedillo (C) after signing bill AB60 on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall October 3, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. De Leon is one of many that want to eliminate some language in Prop 187.; Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Twenty years ago, the citizens of California qualified Proposition 187 for the ballot, a law that would have withheld public services such as health care and education from those in the country illegally.

Most of the measure was struck down as unconstitutional in federal court. But Latino legislators say 187’s potential impact and the cultural alienation they personally experienced still stings. To right the perceived wrong, the Latino Caucus wishes to purge some of the language in the law.

Exactly what language does the caucus want to remove from the books? Are there good reasons to dredge up the past? Do the issues stirred up by 187 still resonate today?

Guests:

Pete Wilson, Former Governor of California, 1991-1999  

Assemblyman Luis Alejo (D-Salinas), representing Assembly District 30th—which encompasses all of San Benito and parts of Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and Monterey counties. He is also Vice Chair of the California Legislative Latino Caucus

World Cup roundup: Epic upsets, extra time beef, and calculating the odds of Team USA advancing

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USA v Portugal: Group G - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

Silvestre Varela of Portugal scores his team's second goal as goalkeeper Tim Howard of the United States looks on during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between the United States and Portugal at Arena Amazonia on June 22, 2014 in Manaus, Brazil.; Credit: Elsa/Getty Images

Team USA and Portugal tied in their World Cup face off yesterday. USA was leading 2-1, but a late goal from Portugal’s Silvestre Varela in the 95th minute equalized the game, vastly complicating the US team’s chances of advancing to the next round of the competition.

Despite the draw, the game showcased another superb—and surprising—performance from the US team, which defeated Ghana for the first time in the World Cup last week. But that’s not the only upset the game has served up so far. Defending champion Spain, the theretofore unrivaled dominant football power, was knocked out early. Costa Rica bested seventh-ranked Uruguay, which beat England in what the British papers called a “devastating” loss.

Guest:  

 

Mike Woitalla,  Executive Editor,Soccer America Magazine. He has covered soccer in 18 countries and is the co-author of former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna's book, "More Than Goals” (Human Kinetics, 2004)

 

 

 

UC Sexual Assault Task Force leaves out rights of the accused

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Janet Napolitano

Janet Napolitano has created a UC Task Force to ensure safety of students at UC campuses.; Credit: Getty Images

The UC system has announced the creation of a sexual assault task force to oversee efforts to prevent sexual violence at UC campuses. It includes two members of the UC Board of Regents, campus police officials, UC and campus administrators, representatives from victim advocacy groups,

Title IX officers, student conduct officers and an undergraduate and graduate student, but no rights of the accused advocates.

We’ll talk about how the task force was composed, what its purpose will be and how it can effectively do its job without a voice representing the rights of accused students.

Guest:

Dianne Klein, Assistant Media Relations Director, University of California Office of the President    

Mark Hathaway, private defense attorney in Los Angeles who has represented students and others accused of sexual misconduct

Study finds rote memorization makes you forget details

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Conceptual image of a human face

Conceptual side profile of a human face, with see through illustration of the brain.; Credit: Evan Sharboneau/ Flickr

A new study by UC Irvine neurobiology professor Michael Yassa indicates that repetition may have negative effects on memorization, at least when it comes to remembering details.

Repeating information improves recall of main themes and factual content, but can actually damage recollection of nuanced details. During the study, subjects were tested on their memories of images -- multiple views made it harder for participants to reject “imposter” pictures of similar subjects with changed details.

While Yassa and his student Zacharaiah Reagh approached their study with neurobiology and memory in mind, the results have broader implications when it comes to education. What kinds of learning best reinforce memories? Does repetition make it harder to recall details?

Guest:

Michael Yassa, assistant professor, in the department of Neurobiology and Behavior at the University of California, Irvine

 

Drought claims pools and fountains at Getty Center and Villa

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Getty Fountains

A view of fountains at the Getty Center. Water features such as these have been drained in response to the prologued drought in California.; Credit: dichohecho via Flickr Creative Commons

Almost anyone who has been to the Getty Center and Villa is immediately struck by the beauty and grandeur of its fountains and pools.

But, the luxury of that kind of water usage has come to an end until drought declarations have been lifted. Both architectural gems have drained most of their pools and fountains in light of the drought here in California.

Since the Getty has taken action, it has saved around 2,500 gallons of water a day. According to the US Drought Monitor, 100% of California is in a severe drought, with almost 33% in an exceptional drought (the worst level). Twice, Governor Brown has called emergency drought declarations, asking Californians to voluntarily reduce their water usage by 20%.

But the State Water Resources Control Board reported that water use by citizens was down only by 5% through May. Are you doing anything to curb your water usage? How? If not, why not? Do you admire the Getty’s choice? Or, do you feel robbed, not able to enjoy the water feature’s majesty?

Guest:

Ron Hartwig, Vice President, Communications at the J. Paul Getty Trust

 

Will new fines prevent Malibu homeowners from restricting public beach access?

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Music Mogul David Geffen Gives Beach Access To Public

Luxurious beach houses crowd the shoreline hiding Carbon Beach, a public beach that was gotten to through a recently opened public accessway next to music producer David Geffen's beach house, on April 18, 2005 in Malibu, California.; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

A new bill signed by Governor Brown gives the California Coastal Commission authority to fine beachside property owners who violate public access requirements. Previously, the commission had to file a lawsuit against property owners who were painting curbsides red and posting fake “No Parking” signs. Homeowners on the Malibu coast claim that the beaches on their property should remain private, and that visitors leave behind a mess. The Coastal Commission fines for fake signs range from hundreds of dollars to $22,000.

Critics of the new bill say that the new laws put an unfair onus on homeowners, who may have pursued a lawsuit protecting their property in the past.

Is it appropriate for the California Coastal Commission to regulate public beach access with fines? Should property owners have a different recourse for keeping beaches private? Will homeowners simply pay the fines or will it actually change their behavior?

RELATED: Malibu’s hidden beaches and how to access them

Guest:

Lisa Haage, Chief of Enforcement at the California Coastal Commission

Damien Schiff, Principal Attorney for Pacific Legal Foundation


Los Angeles city considers contributing $138 million for private hotel project

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California Emissions Laws

; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

Los Angeles’s City Councils Economic Development Committee is considering a plan that would contribute $138 million in financial assistance to the building of the Frank Gehry-designed Grand Avenue project. Under the proposed plan, Related Construction would be able to keep a majority of the hotel tax that would be created by building the project until 2043. Before the Economic Development Committee is the proposed $39 million subsidy for Metropolis, which is set to be constructed next to the 110 freeway and be home to a 19-story hotel and a 38-story residential high-rise.

Critics of the proposed subsidies for multi-million dollar hotels and high-rise residential complex say that city officials shouldn’t be giving away money that the city doesn’t have. They also add that the city of Los Angeles is neglecting its basic infrastructure needs such as maintenance of streets, sidewalks and traffic congestion throughout the city.

What do you think of the proposed subsidies total $180 million to build these two downtown hotels? Is this a case of politicians greasing the wheel and passing on subsidies to campaign donors? Do you feel “the basics have been neglected for too long, as Mayor Garcetti suggested earlier this year?

Guests:

Curren Price, Los Angeles City Council member representing the 9th Council District, which includes Staples Center, L.A. Mart, and USC. He heads the city’s economic development committee, which is considering a plan to provide financial assistance to two major Downtown hotel projects

Laura Lake, a member of the board of directors at Fix the City, an advocacy organization dedicated to improving Los Angeles’ infrastructure

 

 

 

Should you hold out for the perfect job or take the first offer?

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Weekly Jobless Claims Drop To Five Year Low

Applicants wait to meet potential employers at a Manhattan job fair on January 17, 2013 in New York City. Should recent graduates take the very first job offer they receive, or should they hold out for their dream position? ; Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images

California’s unemployment rate has been steadily falling. The state’s jobless rate dropped to 7.6 percent in May, back to pre-recession levels in 2008. Still, more than a million Californians are still out of work, and it’s not uncommon for the long-term unemployed to become discouraged and stop looking.  Meanwhile, college graduation season is upon us, meaning that a lot of newly minted graduates will be hitting the job market. Their prospects, sadly, aren’t that rosy. According to the Economic Policy Institute, a liberal-leaning think tank in D.C., the unemployment rate among young graduates is currently at 8.5 percent (compared with 5.5 percent in 2007).

Even as the economy improves, many job seekers are still finding it difficult to reenter the workforce. While the recent recession and a tough job market play a role, expectations can also be a hindrance. Should a fresh graduate hold out for the perfect job or take the first offer? Should a job seeker wait for that dream job to come? How should one decide?

 

Guest:

Rebecca Kieler, career management consultant and founder of Kieler Career Consulting, a career management firm based in the Bay Area. She’s worked with companies such as Sun Microsystems, Johnson & Johnson, and Yahoo

J. M. Henderson, a contributor to Forbes who writes about early career issues facing Gen Yers and millennials . Her piece for Forbes, “Why Taking A Job You Hate Right Out Of College Is The Best Career Move You Can Make,” was published yesterday.

 

Aereo decision shapes future of cable cord-cutting

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Supreme Court Hears Case Pinning Startup Internet TV Company Aereo Against Major Broadcast Networks

Aereo CEO Chet Kanojia leaves the U.S. Supreme Court after oral arguments April 22, 2014 in Washington, DC. The court ruled that the streaming service was in violation of existing copyright law by retransmitting broadcast televisions programs via miniature antennas for a fee from the company's subscribers. ; Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

It’s a red-letter day for broadcasters, who won a six-to-three Supreme Court decision against TV streaming service Aereo.

Aereo allowed users to watch and DVR network TV from any device, anytime, anywhere. It did this by using thousands of tiny antennas and convincing a Federal appeals court that one-to-one connections between a user and an antenna don’t violate copyright law.

But networks like News Corp didn’t buy it and threatened to remove FOX’s broadcast off the air. Aereo CEO Chet Kanojia has compared the service to a VCR or a library that buys books and lends them out.

If this isn’t the final nail in the coffin for the cable television business model, what comes next for cord-cutting consumers?

Guest:

Dominic Patten, Legal Editor at the entertainment industry news website, Deadline, who’s been following the story. He tweets @DeadlineDominic

A look at the stories and strategies behind today’s most infamous verdicts

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"Acquittal: An Insider Reveals The Stories And Strategies Behind Today's Most Infamous Verdicts" by Richard Gabriel.

How much did media coverage shift the outcome of sensational trials like that of OJ Simpson or Casey Anthony? Does our justice system adequately equip jurries of our peers to decide to convict or acquit? And what do the outcomes of those trials reveal about our society and justice system?

Those are some of the questions trial consultant Richard Gabriel has grappled with throughout his nearly thirty-year career. He joins AirTalk to turn some of the most infamous cases in recent memory on their heads.

Guest:

Richard Gabriel, author of “Acquittal: An Insider Reveals the Stories and Strategies Behind Today’s Most Infamous Verdicts.”

 

The way you want to be treated: conversations about end of life care

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Bessie and Edie Shigekawa of West Los Angeles

Bessie Shigekawa, left, and her daughter Edie Shigekawa, right. Edie says if doctors had had an end-of-life conversation with her earlier, it would have spared her mother unnecessary medical treatment and discomfort. ; Credit: Stephanie O'Neill/KPCC

The way you want to be treated: conversation about end of life care: Talking about a serious illness, the process of aging, treatments and hospice care can all be a trying experience. But difficult conversations spurred by serious healthcare decisions have sparked change at all levels, from family discussions to overarching guidelines now used by L.A. hospitals to facilitate dialogues about end of life care. How can healthcare professionals help make these conversations even more standard and accessible? And what are the best ways to communicate your wishes for yourself or your family while dealing with palliative or end of life care? Join the conversation at AirTalk as we delve into these difficult life decisions and discussions.

Related: RSVP to tomorrow night's at the Crawford Family Forum, Difficult Conversations: Talking about the end of life. 

 

Guests: 

Dr. Glen Braunstein, Vice President of Clinical Innovation at Cedars Sinai Medical Center

Dr. Diane Meier, Director of the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), a national organization devoted to increasing the number and quality of palliative care programs in the United States

Dr. Charles von Gunten, Vice President of Medical affairs, Hospice and Palliative Medicine at Ohio Health Kobacker House, Chairman of the Test Committee on Hospice and Palliative Medicine for the American Board of Medical Specialties, Co-Principal for the Education for Physicians on End-of-life Care Project

 

 

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