After a juvenile great white shark bit a swimmer, fishing is not allowed on the Manhattan Beach Pier until Sept. 7.; Credit: Benjamin Brayfield/KPCC

The Manhattan Beach City Council will decide today whether it wants to make a ban on fishing from the pier permanent. Fishing from the Manhattan Beach Pier has been barred temporarily after a Great White shark bit a swimmer on July 5. Many surfers and swimmers were shaken by the incident, which they say is a result of irresponsible fishing practices.

The shark was hooked on the line of a fisherman on the pier during the attack -- although fishing for sharks is already illegal, some of the pier fishers have big game in mind, and use metal lines and big bait. Critics of the ban argue that banning pier fishing is an unreasonable response to the incident, and that many people fish from the pier to cheaply feed or entertain their families.
 

What is the best way for swimmers and fishers to compromise to keep everyone safe? Should Manhattan Beach ban pier fishing?

Guests:

Chris Erskine, Los Angeles Times Columnist and Surfing enthusiast

Craig Shuman, marine region manager, California Department of Fish and Wildlife

An artist's concept shows the New Horizons spacecraft as it approaches Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, in July 2015.
; Credit: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute

At this time next year, NASA's probe New Horizons will fly by the planet-like object Pluto and discover more about the icy ball. The last time scientists reached for a major solar system body was Voyager 2's flyby of Neptune in 1989.

Data from New Horizons might reignite the debate about Pluto's interstellar status.It was back in 2006 when - what was thought to be the furthest planet in our solar system - Pluto was demoted to a "dwarf planet." Pasadena astronomer Mike Brown of Caltech played a major role in reclassifying little Pluto.

His team had found that Pluto was not the largest object in the faraway Kuiper Belt - the ring of icy bodies in orbit beyond Neptune.

Guests:

Mike Brown, Professor of Planetary Astronomy, Caltech; Author, “How I Killed Pluto”

Sean Carroll, Senior Research Associate in Physics at California Institute of Technology

Anthony Guillen, left, shows a sample of a marijuana bud to a patient at the California Heritage Market, the first-ever cannabis farmers market in Los Angeles. The event drew more than a thousand people to an industrial area of Boyle Heights where all types and forms of marijuana were for sale to medical marijuana patients.; Credit: Benjamin Brayfield/KPCC

LA City Attorney Mike Feuer released a statement today to file a temporary restraining order on a new medical marijuana farmers market in Boyle Heights.

The California Heritage Market — which opened on 4th of July weekend — is the first of its kind in Los Angeles, marking a unique opportunity for card-carrying cannabis patients to purchase marijuana directly from growers.

Feuer says that this market is “an unauthorized, unpermitted use of the property” that has not obtained the proper zoning approvals. David Welch, an attorney representing the market, on the other hand, says that’s not the case. Welch says the market’s executive director, Paizley Bradbury, spoke to an engineer with the city’s Building and Safety Department who said a permit was not necessary.

As of Tuesday morning, the LA Superior Court granted the restraining order on California Heritage Market and it is effective immediately. There will be an additional hearing on this ruling August 6.

Guests:

Mike Feuer, Los Angeles City Attorney

David Welch, Attorney for West Coast Collective and represents the market’s operators

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck poses for a picture at the Los Angeles Police Foundation's 10th annual fundraising gala held at the new LAPD Headquarters on November 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.; Credit: Toby Canham/Getty Images

Los Angeles police officers rejected the city's latest contract proposal last week. Union president Tyler Izen told KPCC no one issue was a deal breaker, but said the lack of a cost of living adjustment was "kind of the straw that broke the camel's back in my members' minds."

We'll get reaction from Chief Beck in his monthly in-studio interview with Larry Mantle. We'll also look at LA crime statistics for the first half of 2014, which were down 5.4 percent overall, with the exception of a 12 percent rise in aggravated assaults.

That crime includes general assaults and attempted assaults with weapons, shots fired and shots fired at inhabited dwelling.

What worries Chief Beck about that trend? Larry will also ask about the LAPD's refusal to honor all federal immigration detention request. What are your questions for Chief Beck?

Guest:

Charlie Beck, Chief of Los Angeles Police Department

A South Carolina woman was arrested after leaving her daughter unattended in a playground while she was at work. ; Credit: Esti Alvarez/flickr Creative Commons

A South Carolina woman was arrested after her 9-year-old daughter was found playing alone in a park near the McDonalds where her mother works. An adult at the park called the police after asking the girl where her mother was -- the woman was arrested for abandonment and the girl was removed the girl from her home.

The incident has sparked a debate among parents and experts about the parameters of safe play and parenting.

Critics argue that opening up a child’s boundaries at that age is perfectly safe, especially since stranger kidnappings are so rare. They say that giving a child a cell phone and sending them somewhere where other children are playing, supervised, is within a parents rights, and is even good for the child’s development.

Others contend that unsupervised children are at risk, and that times have changed -- kids can’t be sent out to play alone until they are older.

Where is the line for parents whose children may be on the cusp of playing unsupervised? What are the safest places and ways for kids to explore independence? Should parents who let their children play alone in a park be punished for endangering their kids?

Guest:

Haley Hughes, News editor for the Aiken Standard, a daily newspaper serving Aiken County, including North Augusta

John Myers, Professor of Law and Director of the Criminal Justice Concentration at University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law

Actress Eva Longoria and Chef Michael Symon join the Lay's brand at the New York Stock Exchange, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, in New York, to introduce the three Lay's "Do Us A Flavor" contest finalist flavors.; Credit: Diane Bondareff

A cup of cappuccino and a bag of potato chips doesn’t sound like a delicious combination, but the people at Lay’s thinks it could be a winning one. The potato chip company rolls out its annual “Do Us a Flavor” this month, where fans can try four different flavors and vote on their favorite online through October 18. Joining the Cappuccino potato chip will be Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese, Wavy Mango Salsa and Kettle Cooked Wasabi Ginger.

"The flavors that you see in the U.S. are probably driven by the multicultural nature of the U.S. consumer," says Lynn Dornblaser, Director of Innovation and Insight at Mintel, adding that the U.S. is actually late to the game when it comes to oddly flavored snacks.

In the U.K. and Asia, there are even more and even wilder flavor combinations for chips: lamb and mint, turkey with stuffing, and even chicken and Pepsi. 

AirTalk listeners weighed in on the air and online with some of the strangest flavor combinations they've tried:

KPCC's online polls are not scientific surveys of local or national opinion. Rather, they are designed as a way for our audience members to engage with each other and share their views. Let us know what you think on our Facebook page, facebook.com/kpcc, or in the comments below.

Is this recent food craze of combining sweet and salty going too far? Intrepid foodies will be able to make their own decision when these flavors hit stores come July 28. Which flavor would you try?

Guest:

Lynn Dornblaser, Director of Innovation and Insight and new product expert at Mintel, a global market research firm

A young girl waits for her family upon arriving to San Pedro Sula, 240 kms north of Tegucigalpa, on July 2, 2014, after being deported from the US. Thousands of unaccompanied children, most of them from Central America, have trekked to the United States in recent months and now face deportation in what the United States has called a humanitarian crisis. ; Credit: ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP/Getty Images

Monday, a chartered plane carrying children and mothers deported from the US landed in the Honduran capital of San Pedro Sula.

In the past, many Central American deportees were added to commercial flights, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reportedly will charter more flights in the coming weeks. Some legal analysts say the Obama Administration is violating the law when it refuses to give migrant minors an immigration hearing.

They cite a trafficking act reauthorized by then President George W. Bush in 2008. However, other analysis says the act only protects children with no family in the US who are the victim of trafficking, rather than voluntary migrants.

As this political fight roils in Washington, yesterday LA Mayor Eric Garcetti said the city would help shelter children detained after crossing the border. He said the city would use federal money to cover legal costs and rely on nonprofits to help establish the minors.

What would be the number of children Los Angeles could expect in light of such a policy? What criteria is ICE using to determine which children should be returned to Central American countries?

Guests:

Jessica Vaughan, Director of Policy Studies at Center for Immigration Studies

Xavier Rosas, Staff Attorney, CARECEN Central American Resource Center 

Foie gras dishes are prepared at Hot's Kitchen during a "Farewell Fois Gras" event on June 29, 2012 in Hermosa Beach, California. ; Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

The Supreme Court may consider California’s ban on foie gras after thirteen states banded together to urge a review of the law. Opponents of the law argue that a ban in California amounts of one state dictating farming methods used in other states. California’s foie gras ban was adopted in 2004 but took effect in 2012, and prohibits the sale of all force-fed poultry products in the state. Animal rights advocates say that the methods for producing foie gras are inhumane -- typically, ducks are force fed until their livers enlarge beyond typical size.

Should the Supreme Court take up California’s law banning foie gras? How does interstate commerce factor in to this decision? Do you support the ban, or are you eager to see foie gras back on the menu in California?

Guest:

Ken Frank, Chef and Partner at Napa's La Toque restaurant; Mr. Frank has faced lawsuits for giving away foie gras instead of selling it to customers

Paul Shapiro, Vice President, Farm Animal Protection, The Humane Society of the United States

American League All-Star Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels poses with the MVP trophy after a 5-3 victory over the National League All-Stars during the 85th MLB All-Star Game at Target Field on July 15, 2014 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images); Credit: Elsa/Getty Images

Summertime means baseball season is well underway.

One mark of this is the annual MLB All-Star Game, which just took place yesterday. This was the 85th year this game has been in existence, and included four Dodger players and two Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim players on the roster.

How did the teams do? What were the highlights? How did our local players fair with the best in the league? And did anyone care? Last year, about 11 million people tuned in -- one-third of the audience from 1982 and a half of the audience from 1994.

But the most shocking fact is the average age of the All-Star Game viewer was 53, according to the Sports Business Journal. So even with the efforts in creating an all-star-roster that includes every team in each league, how important is this game to the average fan?

Guest:

Ryan Fagan, MLB writer at Sporting News

Ruppert Murdoch, chairman and CEO of News Corporation, attends the e-G8 meeting gathering Internet and information technologies leaders and experts at the Tuileries gardens in Paris on May 24, 2011 Images); Credit: LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images

21st Century Fox and Time Warner Inc have been rivals for years in the entertainment industry, but that might be changing soon. Fox offered an $80 billion deal to Time Warner for the two companies to merge into one giant entertainment force, but Time Warner declined the offer. 21st Century Fox owns the television networks Fox, Fox News, FX and operates 20th Century Fox film company -- which has made over a billion dollars domestically just in this year. Time Warner owns HBO, New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. and CNN. If these two companies were to combine, the total revenue is estimated at $65 billion.

With a merge this size, industry experts say this deal could face antitrust scrutiny. The two companies combined would control a large amount of the entertainment business, both in terms of money and content. One key part in the merger deal is Fox wants Time Warner to sell CNN -- a direct competitor to Fox News.

With a desire to control and change content even before a deal has been made, how much will the entertainment industry be affected if this goes through?

Guests:

Amanda Wait, partner at Hunton and Williams LLP,  represents clients in antitrust litigation and government antitrust investigations

Matthew Belloni, Executive Editor at Hollywood Reporter

Pictures appear on the smartphone photo sharing application Instagram on April 10, 2012 in Paris.; Credit: THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images

Accidental reply-alls, unintended uploads, autocorrect mishaps, and undeleted photos. Almost everyone has a story of a digital mishap that left them feeling embarrassed.

With the number of devices we use daily ever-growing and the number of ways to interact always changing, it’s hard to keep track of our digital behavior. Accidentally sharing something in the cloud, replying to the whole office on a private work email, or texting the wrong person is just the tip of the iceberg.

Not everyone’s story of digital embarrassment is quite as extreme as the plot of the new movie Sex Tape, starring Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel, but even a relatively minor technological flub can leave someone blushing.

What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you online? How did you deal with the fallout? Is digital embarrassment as tangible as an offline incident?

Guest:

Karen North, Ph.D., Director, Annenberg Program on Online Communities, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism; psychologist specializing in online communities

A Malaysia Airlines plane prepares to go out onto the runway and passes by a stationary Chinese Ilyushin 76 aircraft (top) at Perth International Airport on March 25, 2014 in Perth Australia. ; Credit: Pool/Getty Images

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, a passenger plane carrying 295 people, has crashed in Ukraine near the Russian border. An advisor to Ukraine’s Interior Minister reports that the aircraft was shot down, though both the Ukrainian government and Russian separatists deny involvement. Malaysia Airlines confirmed that it lost contact with Flight 17 over Ukrainian airspace -- there are indications that the plane came apart at cruising altitude. Reporters at the wreckage site say that the debris field is large, and there have already been bodies found in the area.

What are the potential motivations behind this incident? How will the involved parties deal with the situation? Will the U.S. potentially be involved?

Guests:

Robert English, Director of the USC School of International Relations; he’s an expert on Ukraine and the politics of Russia and former Soviet states.

Michael Barr, instructor in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering's Aviation Safety and Security Program; he’s an expert on air crashes and investigations.

What are the safest cars for teenagers to drive? ; Credit: Carolyn Kaster/AP

Recognizing that most young drivers get used cars as their first set of wheels, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released its first ever list of recommended used vehicles for teens.

The list emphasizes crash protection and safety technology knowing that inexperienced young drivers are higher risks. The IIHS list offers a range of price points - from a $5,000 Saab 9-3 to a $19,000 Toyota Prius v.

The recommendations also remind parents to steer away from high horsepower vehicles. What is the right car for the young driver in your life? What about keeping insurance rates down?

Guest:

Carroll Lachnit, Consumer Advice Editor, Edmunds.com

A man takes a picture of his meal with his mobile phone to share it on the "Food Reporters" network on July 19, 2012 during his lunch in a restaurant in Paris.; Credit: AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Smartphones at restaurants can be both a help and a hindrance to their business owners. On the one hand, customers posting Instagram foodie photos or Yelp check-ins can be great promotion.

On the other hand, patrons who spend a ton of time texting, talking, and scrolling on their smartphones can slow down service and table turnover.

One New York City restaurant reportedly analyzed customer behavior using in-house video from 2004 and compared it to video from 2014. (Note: some publications say the anonymous restaurant rant is a fake.) It's said that the owners were trying to figure out why their service had slowed considerably over the years, despite adding staff.

In 2004, the average start-to-finish time of a table was one hour and five minutes.

In 2014, it jumped to one hour and fifty-five minutes - with most of the time being wasted by customers eyeing their phones instead of reading the menu, eating food or paying the bill.

Are you guilty of dragging out your restaurant experience by focusing on your phone? If you’re in the industry, how do you see customers interact with their phones?

Guest:

Luke O'Neil, Journalist who writes about the food industry and worked in the industry for ten years.

Jason Segel, Cameron Diaz and Rob Lowe pose during a photocall for their latest film 'Sex Tape' at the Hotel Mandarin on June 18, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. ; Credit: Robert Marquardt/Getty Images

Host Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Peter Rainer, Andy Klein and Charles Solomon review this week’s releases, including "Sex Tape," "The Purge: Anarchy," "Planes: Fire and Rescue" and more. TGI-Filmweek!

Sex Tape

The Purge

Planes: Fire and Rescue

Guests:

Peter Rainer, film critic for KPCC and the Christian Science Monitor

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

Charles Solomon, animation film critic for KPCC and Indiewire Animation Scoop

Actress Sandra Bullock attends the 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 12, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. ; Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

It was 25 years ago that obsessed fan Robert Bardo used DMV records to track down 21-year old actress Rebecca Schaeffer at her home.

Bardo shot and killed the "My Sister Sam" star and he remains in prison to this day. After the attack, California prohibited the DMV from releasing home addresses and the LAPD created the country's first threat management team.

Anti-stalking laws were passed the next year and quickly used against a man threatening director Steven Spielberg.

Last month, Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock had an extremely close run-in with a fanatical devotee. The man broke into her house at 6:30 in the morning while she slept. Bullock reacted quickly and the man was arrested.

In the Internet era, stalkers can use tabloid blogs, press releases, and social media to keep tabs on stars' whereabouts. They can also use the web to harass celebrities' friends and family.

For investigators and security staff, stalkers leave behind digital footprints as evidence against them. How do stars and their security teams contend with obsessed fans? How does the court system handle such suspects, many of whom have mental illnesses?

Guest:

Rhonda Saunders, Los Angeles Prosecutor; Created the Stalking and Threat Assessment Team for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office; In 1994, Saunders revised California's stalking law; Author “Whisper of Fear”

U.S. President Barack Obama answers questions after delivering a statement on the Malaysia Airlines crash over eastern Ukraine in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House July 18, 2014 in Washington, DC. Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was allegedly shot down July 17 on the Ukraine/Russia border near the town of Shaktersk.; Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, a passenger plane carrying 295 people was shot down yesterday by a ground-to-air missile, according to U.S. officials. Both the Ukrainian government and Russian separatists deny involvement, with Russian President Vladimir Putin placing the blame on Ukraine and Ukraine’s Minister of Interior Defense arguing that Russian weapons fired the shot. Rescue workers in the debris field have begun a sweep of the large area -- there are thought to be no survivors of the flight. In a press conference yesterday, Malaysian Airlines’ European vice president Huib Gorter revealed the nationalities of the plane’s passengers; a majority were Dutch and European, with 23 Malaysian passengers, not including the crew.

What are the potential motivations behind this incident? If it was an accident, will it make a difference, diplomatically? How will the involved parties deal with the situation? Will the U.S. potentially be involved?

Guests:

Robert English, Director of the USC School of International Relation; he’s an expert on Ukraine and the politics of Russia and former Soviet states

; Credit: ABBAS MOMANI/AFP/Getty Images

Israel initiated ground operations in Gaza yesterday following Hamas violation of a cease-fire proposal from Egypt. The IDF dropped leaflets in Gaza warning citizens to evacuate, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the ground offensive may expand. In the first hours of ground operations, at least 20 Palestinians and 1 Israeli soldier have been killed. The Israeli military says it has uncovered eight tunnel access point in Gaza so far and has fired on 150 sites in the coastal territory. Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have also continued, with the Gazan death toll mounting. Sirens warning of rockets are sounding in Southern Israel, which is under fire from Hamas missiles; as far north at Tel Aviv, the Israeli Home Front Command banned large gatherings asa safety precaution.

Hamas’ political leader Khaled Meshal leads the battle against Israel from a base in Qatar, and says Israel’s ground operations are “bound to fail.” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas argues that the Israeli ground incursion will only “lead to more bloodshed,” and is expected to continue cease-fire negotiations today in Turkey today.

How will fighting in Gaza progress? What are the potential outcomes of Israel’s ground operations? How might the U.S. and U.N. become involved as the situation develops?

Guest:

Robert Danin, Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations

; Credit: PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images

E-cigarette sales have declined for the first time in a five-year-period of steady growth. This news comes in the mists of Reynolds American Inc. agreeing to sell its popular Blu e-cig brand to rival tobacco company Imperial Tobacco Group. The sales of e-cigs rose 1.7% in 2013-- which equals out to $1.7 billion -- but saw a 2.9% decline in May 2014 compared to last year. What does this mean for the e-cigarette business? Does this number indicate the e-cig is just another fad? Or are we seeing a new type of nicotine user emerge?

Guest:

Matt Richtel, reporter for the New York Times has been writing about big tobacco and the e-cigarette market

A couple dances and smokes a joint during a rally for the legalization of marijuana in Mexico City, on September 5, 2010.; Credit: LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images

The increased availability of pot means your romantic partner is just as likely to have a joint after work as they are a glass of wine. Some use it as a way of managing anxiety and believe it has a positive effect on their lives.

"But just as with alcohol," says Dr. J. Wesley Boyd of Harvard, "some who use marijuana do so in a compulsive way that places major portions of their life in jeopardy and produces real, significant negative consequences in their lives — be in strained family relationships, compromised job performance or something else."

What is your experience with pot affecting the rest of your life, particularly your personal relationships? If your partner is a functional user of marijuana, does it help or hinder your relationship? If you get high fairly regularly, does it affect your love life?

Guest:

Dr. J. Wesley Boyd M.D., on faculty in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School; staff psychiatrist at Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA); Author of "Almost Addicted: Is My (or My Loved One's) Drug Use a Problem?"