A homeless man sleeps under an American Flag blanket on a park bench on September 10, 2013 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. As of June 2013, there were an all-time record of 50,900 homeless people, including 12,100 homeless families with 21,300 homeless children homeless in New York City.; Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Merriam-Webster defines poverty as ‘the state of being poor.’ While this definition seems simple enough, defining poverty as it applies to our world in 2015 is not quite so cut and dry.

A recent op-ed in the New York Times examines this idea of whether the poor are actually getting poorer and just how poor the poor are these days. Doing this requires that one look not just as median household incomes, welfare programs, or employment numbers, but rather consider what ‘poor’ means based on the standard of living that is expected today, which is much different than it was in, say, 1960, due to advancements in technology and change in economy.

Has the war on poverty been won or lost? Are the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer? What needs to be factored in when considering what ‘poverty’ means to us today?

Guests:

Gary Burtless, Ph.D., John C. and Nancy D. whitehead Chair in Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution.

Robert Rector, Senior Research Fellow at the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society Domestic Policy Studies at the Heritage Foundation.

Shawn Fremstad, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Employees of the online review site Yelp watch as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks at the new East Coast headquarters of the tech company on October 26, 2011 in New York City.; Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Crowdsourced review sites like Yelp, Angie’s List and TripAdvisor have had a sizable impact on businesses. They give consumers a new means to hold companies accountable and more than ever before, these reviews have the power to make or break a business.

A recent lawsuit filed in Virginia illustrates just how important these consumer-written reviews have become. A dog training business in Virginia has filed recently a lawsuit against a consumer who posted a negative review on Yelp and Angie’s List for defamation.

Do you think this small business in question has a case? If you are a small business owner, how have you handled negative reviews given by customers?

Guests: 

Chris Morran, Senior Editor at The Consumerist, consumer affairs blog owned by Consumer Media LLC, a subsidiary of Consumer Reports. He’s been reporting on crowdsourced review sites like Yelp and TripAdvisors for the past five years.

French prosecutor of Marseille Brice Robin (C), flanked by General David Galtier (R), speaks to the press on March 26, 2015 in Marignane airport near the French southern city of Marseille. The co-pilot "voluntarily" initiated the descent of the Germanwings flight that crashed into the French Alps and refused to open the door to the pilot who was outside the cockpit, the lead investigator said today. ; Credit: FRANCK PENNANT/AFP/Getty Images

The released audio from Germanwings Airbus A320’s recovered voice recorder is disturbing: the pilot can be heard tapping with increasing force on the locked cockpit door as he returns from using the restroom, but only breathing can be heard from the co-pilot as the plane is manually controlled to descend.

Andreas Lubitz, co-pilot of the downed Germanwings flight, appears to have showed a “willingness to destroy [the] aircraft.” The CEO of Lufthansa, the parent company of Germanwings, stated that Lubitz was “100 percent fit to fly” and that “no system in the world” could have foreseen his actions.

What can be done to prevent pilots and co-pilots from crashing planes? Is there a technical solution to the problem, or does the problem require a comprehensive reevaluation of pilot screening, training, and care?

Guests:

Dr. Diane Damos, aviation psychologist and founder of Damos Aviation Services

Michael Barr, senior instructor in the Aviation Safety Program at the Viterbi School of Engineering at USC. He’s an expert in aviation safety as well as airline crash investigation and prevention.

A live video stream using the Meerkat App stream from a helicopter over New York City on March 21, 2015.; Credit: Anthony Quintano/Flick

Two new video-streaming apps could change your definition “live” news.

Periscope and Meerkat are designed to give anybody with a smartphone the ability to broadcast live to the world within seconds. The new technology could make verbal eyewitness accounts a thing of the past.

The two new apps have attracted a lot of attention … and money. Twitter recently shelled out $100 million dollars to buy Periscope, while Meerkat picked up $14 million during its most recent round of funding yesterday.

Both apps are designed to interface smoothly with Twitter. Once a connection is established, the app will notify a person’s followers that they are streaming live. Smartphone users only need to open the app and tap “Stream.”

The live-streaming race is just getting started, but Meerkat has already received a huge boost; Jimmy Fallon recently used the app to broadcast his rehearsals for the ‘Tonight Show.’

As live mobile video apps enter into the mainstream, the possibilities for journalism seem endless. As an explosion and fire destroyed a building in New York yesterday, one Periscope user tapped the app and started streaming.

The capacity to share images from the scene of breaking new may enhance our viewing experience at home, but making every smartphone owner a live cameraman can be risky; ordinary civilians may get in the way of emergency responders, or even put themselves in harm’s way to get the best footage. The tools of a reporter don’t come with the judgment of one.

Have you used Meerkat or Periscope? How can live-streaming apps revolutionize the media world? What are the potential risks?

Guests:

Ashley Esqueda, senior editor at CNET TV and host of the show “Tomorrow Daily”

Robert Hernandez, professor of digital journalism at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

Actor Kevin Hart (L) and actor Will Ferrell speak onstage at the premiere of "Get Hard" during the 2015 SXSW Music, FIlm + Interactive Festival at the Paramount Theatre on March 16, 2015 in Austin, Texas. ; Credit: Michael Buckner

Jessica Yellin and KPCC film critics Andy Klein, Henry Sheehan and Charles Solomon  review this week’s releases, including “Get Hard,” Dreamworks' “Home”and more. TGI-Filmweek!

Guests:

Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and CriticsAGoGo.com

Andy Klein, film critic for KPCC and L.A. Times Community Paper Chain

Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine

Police officers on duty on July 8, 2006.; Credit: Cathy Cole/FLICKR

Excessive workers’ compensation claims from Los Angeles city police and firefighters are costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars a year, according to an audit done by City Controller Ron Galperin.

The audit showed costs of work injuries have gone up 35 percent in the last five years and account for over 60 percent of the city’s workers’ comp claims, and Galperin says that the city could save $28 million a year by cutting back workers’ comp claims for things like back injuries or everyday injuries that occur from sports. In total, 29,000 claims were made and over $800 million was paid out between the 2010-2011 fiscal year and the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

Read the full story HERE

Guests: 

Ron Galperin, Los Angeles City Controller

House Financial Services ranking member U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) listens to testimony from Federal Reserve Bank Board Chairman Ben Bernanke on Capitol Hill February 29, 2012 in Washington, DC. Bernanke was testifying about the Fed's Semiannual Monetary Policy Report. ; Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

When Barney Frank left Congress in 2013, the Democratic Party lost a powerful elder statesman that fought tirelessly for social justice and American politics lost a no-nonsense straight shooter who spoke his mind on a range of matters.

Frank was the first member of Congress to come out as gay in 1987 and was one of the architects of Dodd-Frank, financial reform legislation enacted after the 2008 recession.

He retired after 16 terms in the House of Representatives in 2013.

Barney Frank joins guest host Jessica Yellin for a conversation on his new memoir, “Frank.”

Barney Frank will be speaking at the South Pasadena Library’s community room at 12 p.m. TODAY. The event is sponsored by Vroman’s. Click herefor more information.

Guest:

Barney Frank, author of “Frank: A Life in Politics From the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage” and member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts from 1981 to 201

Cancer patient Joseph Durant (bottom) lays down before targeted radiation treatment at the Cape Fear Valley Cancer Center August 4, 2010 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Health care providers around the country are increasingly specializing their care by creating distinct treatment centers for various disorders and acquiring the latest high-tech medical equipment. ; Credit: Chris Hondros/Getty Images

Produced by Ken Burns and directed by Barak Goodman, a new three-part documentary series on cancer began on PBS last Monday.

Based on the book by Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee of the same name, the series takes a broad look at the history of cancer during the past century, focuses on how it affects the lives of millions today, and explores the future of cancer and the research that is racing against time to treat it.

Part 2 of "Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies" will be shown on PBS stations across the country tonight at 9 PM.

You can watch the official trailer for the series HERE

Guests:

Barak Goodman, executive producer of the PBS documentary series "Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies"

A Tesla Motors vehicle is seen on the showroom floor at the Dadeland Mall on February 19, 2014 in Miami, Florida.; Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Ever thought to yourself: “I wish my car could pick me up.” Now there’s an app for that.

Tesla is diligently working on software that may drive state regulators and insurers mad, namely the ability for your car to have certain autonomous or ‘autopilot’ functionality.

Although the automaker is also planning on alleviating ‘range anxiety,’ or the fear that drivers of electric cars will get stuck on the road without the ability to charge a battery, it’s the thought of cars driving people that has propelled Tesla to the latest headlines. Tesla plans on releasing the software update this summer.

Now that cars can park themselves and have become increasingly autonomous, should we accept self-driving cars as the future of travel? Who is liable if a ‘hands-free’ or ‘driverless’ car hits someone?

Guest:

Antuan Goodwin, Associate Editor at Car Technology at CNET

U.S. President Barack Obama meets with members of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology at the White House March 27, 2015 in Washington, DC. The White House announced a five-year plan to combat threats posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria as once treatable germs become increasingly difficult to treat.; Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

The White House rolled out a five-year plan to fight the threat posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria on Friday, a major effort undertaken by the Obama administration to address a growing health issue.

The 60-page report is put together by a government task force that include top health, agriculture and defense officials.

Does the White House plan go far enough? Where would the funding come from?

Guests:

Amanda Jezek, Vice President of Public Policy and Government Relations at the Infectious Diseases Society of America, which  represents physicians, scientists and other health care professionals who specialize in infectious diseases.

Tom Talbot, DVM, veterinarian, cattle producer and past president of the California Cattlemen’s Association

Former Long Beach Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell became the first non-LASD member to head of the department in 100 years. McDonnell was sworn in on December 1 as Los Angeles County’s 32nd Sheriff.; Credit: Maya Sugarman/KPCC

Los Angeles County Sheriff  Jim McDonnell stops by today for the first of what will be a monthly check-in with AirTalk.

Much like we do with LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, we’ll chat with the Sheriff about the biggest crime and public safety stories locally and nationally, as well ask take a few calls from our listeners who have questions for the Sheriff.

Today, Larry and the Sheriff will be discussing body cameras, the proposal to build a jail solely to house those in need of correctional rehab, the battle over an emergency radio system that would connect all of L.A.’s first responders and emergency personnel, the easing of Jessica’s Law for some sex offenders, and more.

Guest:

Jim McDonnell, Sheriff of Los Angeles County

US Republican Representative Mike Pence of Indiana arrives for a closed-door briefing for members of the US House of Representatives on US military intervention in Libya by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, March 30, 2011. ; Credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

Business owners in the state of Indiana can now legally deny services to same-sex couples on the grounds that it would go against their religious beliefs.

Last week, Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed into law the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which “prohibits a government entity from substantially burdening a person’s exercise of religion” unless the governmental entity can demonstrate a compelling governmental interest.

The LGBT community and its allies have condemned the law, saying it essentially legalizes discrimination. Apple CEO Tim Cook authored an op-ed in the Washington Post in which he said laws like this "rationalize injustice by pretending to defend something many of us hold dear." Others, who defend the law, say that it simply gives business owners (i.e. florists, bakers, etc.) with strong religious beliefs the opportunity to say no if they feel that providing a service to a same-sex couple would infringe on their religious beliefs. 

What do you think about this law? Should those with strong religious beliefs be allowed to refuse services to same-sex couples or does this law go too far? Are there other states in the U.S. with similar legislation? What does this mean for Indiana’s LGBT community?

Guests:

John Eastman, professor of law and founding director of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence at Chapman University.

Jennifer Pizer, senior counsel, and law and policy project national director for Lambda Legal, a law firm that specializes in defending LGBT rights.

A man stands on March 29 2015 in front of a commemorative headstone in Seyne-les-Alpes, the closest accessible site to where a Germanwings Airbus A320 crashed on March 24 in the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board.; Credit: JEAN-PIERRE CLATOT/AFP/Getty Images

In the wake of Germanwings flight 9525 crash into the French Alps, Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz’s history of ‘suicidal tendencies’ is raising questions about how pilots are mentally evaluated.

As the workplace increasingly faces the topic of mental illness and how to balance worker’s rights with the safety of those with whom they work, the Germanwings crash shows just how important it is not only to ask the right questions but also to get the answers right.

At the moment, the most pressing question is why would a suicidal co-pilot want to kill all the passengers and crew when killing himself? We'll also look at what latitude airlines have in deciding whether a pilot's mental health should lead to grounding.

Should annual psychological evaluations be required? What steps can be taken to protect both passengers and pilots?

Guests:

Dr. Russell Rayman, (M.D.), practicing physician and Former Executive Director of the Aerospace Medical Association (18 years). Doctors like Rayman are the first line of defense when determining the mental stability of a pilot. 

Bill Schmitz, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist and president of the American Association of Suicidology

1996 GILLIAN ANDERSON AND DAVID DUCHOVNY OF THE HIT SERIES THE 'X-FILES'.; Credit: Fox/Liaison

If you miss spending your evenings watching Scully and Mulder investigating the paranormal or long for the days of watching Coach Hayden Fox and his Screaming Eagles, you’re in luck!

Last week, Fox announced that it had ordered a six episode run of “The X-Files,” with David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson returning as Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, respectively.

NBC also announced that it was rebooting one of its series, saying it would be ordering 13 new episodes of the 1989-97 sitcom “Coach.” NBC says Craig T. Nelson, who starred in the original series, will return to reprise his role as Coach Fox.

What other TV series do you think should get rebooted? Which TV programs in history have had the biggest cult following or the most loyal viewers?

Guests:

Elizabeth Wagmeister, TV reporter for Variety

Robert Bianco, TV critic for USA Today

New York Police Department (NYPD) Officer Joshua Jones demonstrates how to use and operate a body camera during a press conference on December 3, 2014 in New York City.; Credit: Andrew Burton/Getty Images

A bill, AB66, introduced by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, D- San Diego, sets guidelines for how body cameras worn by law enforcement, should be used.

A proposal in the bill says that police officers should not be able to view body camera video footage before submitting their eyewitness report to the prosecution. Supporters of the bill say that’s not the intended use of the cameras, nor is it good investigative practice to show evidence to those being investigated prior to their first report.

But, police officers see it differently. To them, video footage is an additional tool that can help them accurately report what happened. Police also fear that if they report even small inaccuracies initially, those errors could be held against them and potentially impeach their character, leading to losing their job.

Should police officers have access to body camera video footage prior to submitting their report to prosecutors? Or would that practice give police an unfair advantage over the accused or complainants?

Guests:

Brian Marvel, President of the San Diego Police Officers Association

Peter Bibring, Director of Police Practices for the ACLU of Southern California

EU political director Helga Schmid (CL) seats next to Iran's deputy foreign minister Abbas Araqchi (R) at the opening of nuclear talks between Iran and Members of the P5+1 group on March 5, 2015 in Montreux. The so-called P5+1 group of Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany is trying to strike an accord that would prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb.; Credit: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi says the country won’t be shipping off their stockpiles of uranium, the latest complication in negotiations before today's self-imposed deadline.

Araqchi’s statements came as news to American officials; for months it was believed that Iran would send their uranium to Russia for reprocessing. Reprocessed uranium is altered from its pure state, making it difficult to develop a nuclear weapon. Despite statements made to Iranian media, however, a State Department official tells reporters, “Contrary to the report in The New York Times, the issue of how Iran’s stockpile would be disposed of had not yet been decided in the negotiating room, even tentatively.”

Secretary of State John Kerry met with Iranian foreign ministers Monday to address the recent announcement and finalize the parameters of the deal.

Six days of marathon sessions ended today with a resolution to continue talking. Though a basic framework has been laid out, Iran the five other nations involved in negotiations still disagree over some key issues.

Guests:

Robert Einhorn, senior fellow of foreign policy at Brookings

Steve LeVine, Washington correspondent for QZ.com

Daft Punk (L) and Beyonce onstage at the Tidal launch event #TIDALforALL at Skylight at Moynihan Station on March 30, 2015 in New York City.; Credit: Jamie McCarthy

One of the rap games biggest names is making a foray into the world of streaming music.

Shawn Corey Carter, better known by his stage name, Jay-Z, has announced plans to launch his own streaming music service

Guest:

John Jurgensen, entertainment reporter for the Wall Street Journal covering music and digital entertainment.

A hiker at the corner of Durand Dr. at Griffith Park. ; Credit: Puck90/Flickr

A pilot program to open a path for motorists through Griffith Park to the iconic Hollywood Sign is pitting neighborhood groups against cyclists against tourists against hikers against other neighborhood groups - you get the idea.

While congestion is no stranger to residents of Los Angeles, an internecine conflict between those who live on Beachwood Canyon and those who live near and recreationally use Griffith Park has flared up because of the pilot program. Slated to last until April 12, the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks is administering the program to assess overall congestion and how to alleviate concerns related to burgeoning tourism.

Should Griffith Park be open to increased traffic and parking from people who want to look at the Hollywood Sign? How can the city reconcile tourism dollars with resident protections?

Guests:

Tom LaBonge, Los Angeles City Councilmember for the 4th district, stretching from Sherman Oaks through Griffith Park down to Miracle Mile

Joe Salaices, Superintendent, Department of Recreation and Parks, City of Los Angeles

Water flows down Yosemite Falls, the highest waterfall in North America in the Sierra Nevada mountain range at Yosemite National Park on March 25, 2015 in California, where the snowpack in the mountain range hit an unprecedented low this week, falling below historic lows of 2014 and 1977 for the state's driest winter in sixty-five years of record keeping.; Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

The state of California will conduct its last manual snowpack reading today, and the forecast is that the numbers won’t be good.

Governor Jerry Brown will be in attendance, and expectations are for the snowpack to be about six percent of normal for today’s date. Electronic measurements taken Dec. 30 showed the state’s snow water equivalent at 50 percent of the historical average for that day. On January 29, it was at 25 percent of that day’s average. It’s just the latest reminder to Californians that life in drought appears to be the new normal for the foreseeable future.

What does that mean for agriculture and water conservation efforts? We’ll talk about the what living with drought will look like in the future of the state.

Guests:

Jay Famiglietti, hydrologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a professor at UC Irvine

Bill Patzert, climatologist for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Photo of LA from 1985; Credit: Ted Chambers via Flickr

Besides the Hollywood sign and the walk of fame, Los Angeles is probably best known for its traffic.

Constantly atop lists of cities with the worst commute times or most congested roads, the city of L.A. has been working for decades and on a multitude of fronts, trying to make it easier and faster for residents to commute in and around L.A.

So, how much progress has been made in the last 30 years? As part of our 30th anniversary celebration, AirTalk takes a look back at how transportation in L.A. has (and hasn’t) changed in the last 30 years and a look ahead at what lies in the future for commuters in L.A.

Guests:

Steve Hymon, editor of The Source, the official blog of Metro Los Angeles

Tamika Butler, executive director of the L.A. Bike Coalition

Jay Beeber, executive director of Safer Streets L.A., and a research fellow with the Reason Foundation