The 10th annual Brentwood Parade started after the 5K and 10K morning runs. The parade which ran down San Vicente Boulevard, featured rare animals and rare entertainers all in a row on May 24, 1985.
; Credit: Los Angeles Public Library

The year was 1985, and on April 1 at Pasadena City College, a young broadcaster by the name of Larry Mantle sat behind a KPCC microphone for the inaugural broadcast of AirTalk.

At the time, a gallon of gas cost about $1.10 and a postage stamp cost 22 cents. The compact disc, the Super Mario Brothers and New Coke were introduced to America. Microsoft released the first version of Windows and the first .com domain name was registered. All while Ronald Reagan served as President of the United States.

Today, that same broadcaster still sits behind a KPCC microphone and continues to bring his loyal listeners the latest in news, entertainment, and culture from Southern California.

Join us as Larry Mantle celebrate 30 years to the day of hosting the region’s longest continuously-running daily talk radio program (no April Fooling) with a special 2-hour live broadcast from our Crawford Family Forum. True to form, Larry and special guests will address the issues of the day as well as take a look at Southern California then and now with a conversation on what’s to come. There may even be a few surprises!

Some notable interviews from yesteryear: 

Don’t miss this chance to congratulate Larry and the team on 30 years of outstanding public affairs programming in true AirTalk fashion.

Guests:

Fernando Guerra, professor of political science and director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University

Joe Hicks, vice president of the Los Angeles-based political think tank Community Advocates, Inc; former Executive Director of the Los Angeles City Human Relations Commission, 1997 to 2001, and former Executive Director of the Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)

Patt Morrison, LA Times columnist and KPCC contributor

Chris Thornberg, principal at the LA-based Beacon Economics, an independent research and consulting firm

Zev Yaroslavsky, former LA County Supervisor

"Always"; Credit: Redwood Photography - Rob Bridge via Flickr

Love conquers all. At least, that’s how the saying goes. But can love conquer class?

It’s a question Duke University professor Jessi Streib sets out to answer in an op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post entitled “For richer or poorer: The challenges of marrying outside your class.” In it, she explains how her research has led her to discover that the financial stability of a person during his or her childhood had notable effects on that person’s marriage in many ways. Streib argues things like how free time is spent, house work, renovations, and even talking through feelings can be influenced by the financial stability of each spouse’s childhood.

Has class difference had an influence on your marriage? What are some of the benefits and difficulties of marrying someone from a starkly different social class? How much of a factor is a person’s social class to you when considering marriage?

Guest:

Jessi Streib, author of the book “The Power of the Past: Understanding Cross-Class Marriages,” and an assistant professor of sociology at Duke University.

A new YouTube video set to Pharrell's "Happy" highlights Los Angeles' broken sidewalks.

Los Angeles settled a giant class action lawsuit Wednesday brought on behalf of a quarter-million disabled city residents.

They contended that L.A.'s broken sidewalks impaired their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to move freely around the city.

The settlement will set the city back a whopping $1.4 billion. But is that amount enough to fix the city’s broken sidewalks. How would the city prioritize repairs?

Listen to the full story here

Guest:

Mike Feuer, Los Angeles City Attorney

Women breastfeed their babies at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington on February 12, 2011 during a "nurse-in"organized after a woman was stopped from nursing in public at the museum by security guards two weeks ago. ; Credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

The health benefits of breastfeeding are well known. While the practice was once shunned, breastfeeding has experienced a resurgent.

And for-profit ventures are taking notice. A few commercial springing up to take advantage of the renewed popularity of the so-called “liquid gold.” What are the socioeconomic and health implications? Will there ever be a commercial market for breast milk?

Guests:

Bruce German, director of Foods for Health Institute at UC Davis. He’s studied the benefits of breast milk for over 2 decades

Kim Updegrove, executive director of the nonprofit Mothers’ Milk Bank Austin and immediate past president of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America, which was formed in 1985 to ensure the safety of donor human milk

California Governor Jerry Brown speaks to reporters at the site of a manual snow survey on April 1, 2015 in Phillips, California. The recorded level is zero, the lowest in recorded history for California. Gov. Brown went on to announce mandatory statewide water restrictions. ; Credit: Max Whittaker/Getty Images

Amid the news yesterday that California’s snowpack, which supplies about a third of the state’s water, has almost completely vanished, Governor Jerry Brown ordered statewide cutbacks aimed at saving as much water as possible.

His order calls for cities and towns to cut water usage by 25 percent, while places like golf courses and cemeteries will be restricted in how much water they can use for their large landscapes. Local governments will also pull up 50 million square feet of lawns in lieu of drought-resistant plants and citizens will get rebates under a temporary program when they replace old, water-sucking appliances with newer, more efficient ones.

For the full story, click HERE.

Guests:

Fiona Sanchez, Director of Water Resources for the Irvine Ranch Water District in Orange County.

Conner Everts, Co-Facilitator, Environmental Water Caucus, caucus of more than 30 grassroots organizations with a common interest in CA water issues

Patrick Cavanaugh, broadcaster with the California Ag Today Radio Network; managing editor of American Vineyard and California Dairy; editor of Vegetables West and Pacific Nut Producer magazines

The Rev. Dr. Robert H. Schuller, founding pastor of the Crystal Cathedral with a four-decade career of ministry through his weekly Hour of Power television broadcasts died Thursday morning.; Credit: “Handout/Hour of Power with Bobby Schuller”

Surrounded by family this morning, the Reverend Robert Schuller, founding pastor of the Crystal Cathedral in Orange County died at age 88 after a 2013 diagnosis of esophageal cancer.

Preaching salvation through positivity, dignity and self esteem, Schuller ministered to millions of people over four decades through his weekly television show, the "Hour of Power."

"He was the one of the great religious leaders of the 20th century using his wonderful, therapeutic messages," said long-time friend, Richard Mouw of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. "I didn't always agree with him, but he maintained dignity in his ministry," Mouw added.

Read more here

What do you remember about the Reverend Schuller? What impact did he have on faith, religion, spirituality, and public life in Southern California and beyond?

Watch Rev. Schuller's last sermon at the Crystal Cathedral HERE.

Guest:

Richard Mouw, Professor of Faith & Public Life and Former President, Fuller Theological Seminary; long-time friend of Reverend Robert Schuller.

Washington Nationals mascots representing presidents George Washington (L) and Thomas Jefferson are seen during the annual Easter Egg roll 09 April 2007 at the White House in Washingon, DC. ; Credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

One was a staunch pragmatist, the other an unabashed idealist.

In “The Great Divide,” historian Thomas Fleming pits the competing visions of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and draws out how their ideological battles helped shape the fledgling nation.

While Washington opposed the violence and chaos of the French Revolution, Jefferson supported it regardless of the upheaval.  They differed on what direction should the nation’s policy foreign take, the role of merchants and farmers in a sustainable economy, but their most profound difference was in the role of government and what power should the country’s highest office—the presidency—wield.

Guest:

Thomas Fleming, historian who has written over fifty books. His latest is "The Great Divide: The Conflict between Washington and Jefferson that Defined a Nation" (Da Capo Press, 2015)

(From L) European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarifat and a Russian official look on as British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond shakes hands with US Secretary of State John Kerry at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne) on April 2, 2015, after Iran nuclear program talks finished with extended sessions. European powers and Iran on April 2 hailed a breakthrough in talks on reaching a deal to curtail Tehran's nuclear programme. AFP PHOTO / POOL / BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images); Credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

After marathon negotiations, the United States, Iran and five other world powers announced a deal Thursday outlining limits on Iran's nuclear program so it cannot lead to atomic weapons, directing negotiators toward a comprehensive agreement within three months.

For the full story, click here.

Guests:

Trita Parsi, founder and president of the National Iranian American Council

Robert Kaufman, professor in the School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University

Dakota Fanning and Tom Sturridge attend the World Premiere of "Effie Gray" at The Curzon Mayfair on October 5, 2014 in London, England.; Credit: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critic Claudia Puig and Variety critic Justin Chang review this week’s releases, including "Furious 7," "Woman in Gold," "Effie Gray," and more. TGI-Filmweek!

Guests:

Claudia Puig, Film Critic for KPCC and USA Today

Justin Chang, Chief Film Critic for Variety

Slava Voynov #26 of the Los Angeles Kings and family celebrate after the Kings win the Stanley Cup after defeating the Rangers 3-2 in double overtime during Game Five of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center on June 13, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. ; Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Los Angeles Kings player Slava Voynov is accused of beating his wife, Marta Varlamova, at their Redondo Beach home in October.

At a hearing today, the lawyer for Varlamova said that she does not want to testify against Voynov without providing a reason. But a prosecutor in the case said that Varlamova is legally obligated to do so.

In a criminal trial or a grand jury proceeding, a spouse cannot be compelled to testify against his or her spouse, but there is an exception in cases of domestic violence. If Varlamova refuses to testify, she could face sanctions from the judge in the form of house arrest or a fine, but not jail time.

Guest:

Krista Niemczyk, Public Policy Manager at the statewide nonprofit California Partnership to End Domestic Violence. She is an expert of domestic violence laws in California

Gail Pincus, Executive Director of the Domestic Abuse Center, a nonprofit which works with victims of domestic violence in Van Nuys. She is also a clinical social worker and she provides expert court testimonies on intimate partner battering and its effects.

US President Barack Obama gestures while making a statement at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 2, 2015 after a deal was reached on Iran's nuclear program. Iran and world powers agreed on the framework of a potentially historic deal aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear drive after marathon talks in Switzerland.; Credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

In the wake of yesterday’s news that negotiators from Iran and several other world powers had reached an agreement on an outline of a deal that would limit Iran’s nuclear program capabilities over the next 25 years, and in return, lift sanctions imposed on the country once it has been confirmed that Iran has kept its word.

This sets the table for a full agreement. which is expected by the end of June.

Some in Congress, however, are still leery of the deal. Republicans, specifically, said Thursday they were still concerned about Tehran holding up its end of the bargain, and planned to move forward with legislation that would give Congress a final vote on any deal.

Should Congress be allowed to vote on any deal before it’s finalized?

Guest:

Michael Crittenden, Capitol Hill reporter for the Wall Street Journal in Washington, D.C.

(L to R) Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) faces off against Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) in Furious 7. Continuing the global exploits in the unstoppable franchise built on speed, James Wan directs this chapter of the hugely successful series.; Credit: Scott Garfield

The Furious 7 stunt team employed more than 140 crew members to pull off astounding feats of speeding cars, crashing cars, and even a flying car all to rave reviews from critics for its opening weekend.

From stunt drivers and precision drivers to riggers, coordinators, and stunt doubles, the expensive, risky Fast & Furious franchise is one of the best in its genre. Where do you rank the series among great racing movies? What are the best locations for car stunts and speedy scenes, for example, the streets of Paris or winding mountainous roads or metro tunnels? How do stunt crews work together to choreograph complicated scenes? What are your favorite racing movies or car chase scenes?

Guest:

Tim Sabatino, Precision Driver, “Furious 7;” Sabatino’s other credits include stunt driver on “The Dark Knight Rises”

Students walk past the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house on the University of Virginia campus on December 6, 2014 in Charlottesville, Virginia. On Friday, Rolling Stone magazine issued an apology for discrepencies that were published in an article regarding the alleged gang rape of a University of Virginia student by members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. ; Credit: Jay Paul/Getty Images

It was the investigative story  that rocked the nation, but not in the way Rolling Stone had intended.

Over the weekend, the magazine formally retracted the 9,000-word piece by writer Sabrina Rubin Erdely detailing an alleged gang rape at a University of Virginia frat house, after commissioning the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism to review the piece. 

The report found basic journalistic errors throughout the process. “The failure encompassed reporting, editing, editorial supervision and fact-checking,” wrote the Columbia authors. “The magazine set aside or rationalized as unnecessary essential practices of reporting that, if pursued, would likely have led the magazine’s editors to reconsider publishing Jackie’s narrative so prominently, if at all.”

The magazine and Edely both apologized after the release of the report. None of the editors that worked on the story will be fired because of the story. Rolling Stone says it plans to continue working with Erdely.

CNN is reporting that Phi Kappa Psi, the fraternity at the center of the Rolling Stone piece, is contemplating a possible lawsuit against the magazine.

What’s the long-term impact of the retracted story? How would the lawsuit play out if Phi Kappa Psi decides to pursue legal action?  How does this unfortunate example feed into the national conversation about the pervasiveness of sexual assault on college campuses?

Guest:

Jane Kirtley, professor media ethics and law at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota

A skater passes a van where a homeless person is sleeping July 13, 2004 in Venice, California. ; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

Homeless people in L.A. who sleep in their cars may have to find somewhere else to rest their heads at night.

The Los Angeles City Council is considering reinstating a ban on people living in their vehicles. City attorney Mike Feuer lays out two options in a letter to members of city council: one reinstates the ban that a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel of judges struck down last year, but with a tighter definition of “living in a vehicle” that Feuer says will satisfy the court. The other is a revised version of the ban, and prohibits people from sleeping on city streets unless they have a permit through the city.

Supporters of the ban say it’s necessary to prevent these vehicles from parking overnight on residential streets, creating trash, and causing trouble. Opponents say it’s too harsh on the homeless, and that they can’t just create a ban and expect the city’s homeless problem to go away.

Do you support the city’s ordinances the way they are currently written? If not, what do you think is a better way to deal with the issue of homeless living in vehicles?

Guests:

Mark Ryavec, President of the Venice Stakeholders’ Association, an organization dedicated to civic improvement in Venice Beach.

Steve Clare, Executive Director, Venice Community Housing Corporation, nonprofit housing and community development organization serving low-income residents in the Westside of Los Angeles

A family enjoys a meal together on Jan. 12, 2008.

The home-cooked meal has become a casualty of our busy lifestyle.

While American families still make time to eat together at the dinner table, one survey finds that in 2014 less than 60 percent of suppers served were cooked at home. That’s down 15 percent just 30 years ago. Ironically, the decline in cooking at home coincides with the unprecedented  popularity of cooking shows on TV.

What gives? Do you cook? Why and why not?

Guest:

Harry Balzer, chief industry analyst and vice president at market research firm NPD Group, who has been following the eating habits of Americans for for almost three decades

Sarah Bowen, associate professor of sociology at North Carolina State University, where she specializes in the sociology of food. She is a coauthor of a 5-year ongoing study on cooking and families, funded by the USDA.

Angry Child; Credit: Gerrt Thomasen via Flickr

A California appeals court has butted heads with another state appellate court over whether the state can remove out-of-control children from the custody of a parent even if the mother or father has not neglected the child or is otherwise not at fault for their behavior.    

If children face substantial risk of harming themselves, it doesn't matter whether the parent did anything intentional to put them in that position, the 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled Thursday. Another state appellate court ruled in 2010 that a parent had to be shown to be culpable for a failure or inability to supervise or protect a child. Such conflicts between appeals courts are often resolved by the state Supreme Court.

Guests:

Dale Thetford, Principal Deputy County Counsel, Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services

David Estep, a law firm director for  Children's Law Center of California based in LA

An arrest taking place June 13, 2011.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to decide Tuesday whether to lift restrictions on who has access to public assistance for housing, allowing people on probation and parole and with drug convictions older than two years to qualify for Section 8 housing.

Currently, the county has tougher requirements than the federal government on who can live in federally subsidized public housing projects and receive Section 8 vouchers for rent assistance.

For the full story, click here.

Guest:

Sheila Kuehl, LA County Supervisor

Body Image; Credit: Charlotte Astrid via Flickr

The French National Assembly passed two measures Friday that effectively ban ultra-thin models.

France is just the latest country to regulate the industry; Israel, Spain and Italy each have bans of their own. French models and agencies now have to adhere to strict body mass index (BMI) guidelines. Violation of these rules could result in fines of up to 75,000 euros ($82,000) for the contravening agency. Agencies found to be encouraging dangerous eating habits could face fines of 100,000 euros.

The decision by the French Assembly is just the latest move in French President’s Francois Hollande’s campaign against anorexia in the country’s modeling industry. France’s assembly believes anorexia in modeling to be a matter of public health, arguing that young men and women who see the emaciated models may themselves pick up unhealthy eating habits. Temple University Sociology professor Amanda Czerniawski tells AirTalk that that the decision in France could have a significant impact on the industry globally. “When France takes actions like that, the world pays attention,” she says.

Today on AirTalk we take a look at America’s modeling industry: is it time we look into regulations of our own? Do noticeably skinny models promote unhealthy body images among young people? Or could overregulation of the industry lead to new problems?

Guests:

Trish Jones-Bendel, President of ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)

Amanda Czerniawski, Professor of sociology at Temple University, where she teaches courses on bodies, gender and culture. Author of “Fashioning Fat,” which explores the world of plus-sized modeling.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and his wife Kelley Paul wave to supporters during an event announcing Sen. Paul's candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination at the Galt House Hotel on April 7, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky. Originally an ophthalmologist, Paul rode the Tea Party wave to office in 2010. ; Credit: Luke Sharrett/Getty Images

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is officially running for president. He formally announced his intent to run this morning at a rally in Louisville.

“I am running for president to return our country to the principles of liberty and limited government,” Paul wrote on his website.

Paul, a libertarian surgeon, joined the Senate in 2010 and built his brand advocating for civil liberties, and a more “hands-off” government. Rand, the son of three-time presidential hopeful Ron Paul is doing something his father never did: run a campaign that could attract voters from both sides of the aisle. This could give him an advantage later in the general election.

Rand Paul has long enjoyed strong tea-party support; the group even helped him win the Senate. Paul gained notoriety from his readiness to challenge everyone, including other Republicans, on issues like national security spending, Common Core and medical marijuana.

Paul has a long history of leaning right, however, in the weeks and months leading up to his announcement, he has remained noticeably silent on several controversial issues, including the recent religious freedom laws passed in Indiana and Arkansas. Critics of the laws say that they will allow businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians.

Rand Paul has proposed a series of “common sense” policies in Washington, including introducing term limits for congress, and cutting off foreign aid to countries he considers “haters of America.” He has also rallied against surveillance of web and phone records. Paul’s policies are both liberal and conservative. Does this improve his chances of a successful presidential run?

Does the Rand Paul campaign have a better chance of success than his father’s? Could he gain enough political momentum to steal votes from Hillary Clinton?

Guests:

Aaron Blake, political reporter with the Washington Post

John Samples, vice president and publisher of the Cato Institute - a think tank focused on libertarian principles

A passengers is checked by a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer at Baltimore-Washington International Airport's security screening checkpoint on April 28, 2008 in Linthicum, Maryland.; Credit: PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images

Several prominent black women say the TSA’s screening practices are discriminatory. Now the TSA plans to do something about it.

The women claim that they are often singled out for special screening by TSA agents at numerous airports across the U.S., including LAX. Women with especially voluminous hair say that they’re frequently targeted by TSA agents who ask to search their hair for potential weapons. The TSA will now work with the ACLU to begin anti-discrimination training at LAX.

The problem first came to light when ACLU staff lawyer Novella Coleman reported discrimination in 2012. The complaint finally received a response after neuroscientist Malaika Singleton complained that TSA agents handled her “Sisterlocks” at LAX and again at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in 2013.

Many women who have experienced similar treatment have taken to Twitter to share their displeasure. Solange Knowles, sister to Beyoncé, started a social media firestorm after tweeting about her experiences with airport screeners.

Discrim-FRO-nation. My hair is not a storage drawer. Although, guess I couuld hide a joint up in here. *Blames "Romnesia" (my wigs name)

— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) November 14, 2012

Lets play a little game called: "What did TSA find in Solange's Fro"?

— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) November 14, 2012

Several other African American females have also tweeted about perceived discrimination:

I assume TSA woman meant the machine picked up an anomaly hence why she touched my #sisterlocks. Hell who knows. #naturalhair

— Around The Way Girl (@vivrant_thang) January 12, 2012

Yes, know I'm counting, consecutive #hair pat down #6. I believe my hair may be a threat 2 #nationalsecurity. Really #TSA. #freemycurls

— Latarsha Rose (@LatarshaRose) March 13, 2013

I am ALWAYS selected for an extra "hair" search w #TSA. Invasive fingers thru cornrows twisties twistouts & braids. @rolandsmartin

— Afro State of Mind (@AfroStateOfMind) March 31, 2015

The 1 time it's ok 2 touch my hair: when I wear pipe cleaner curlers to the airport. All up IN my hair. #tsa + #blackwomenshair = hilarity.

— Nikki Silvestri (@nikkicsilvestri) November 19, 2014

Great news for my naturals #TSA will now stop searching our hair for bombs and weapons. Finally they realize our hair is not a shelf...

— Brittani C (@Beautyfulbriit) March 30, 2015

Do you feel like you have been subjected to excessive screening? What criteria do you think was used: race, hair, headwear?

Guest:

Hugo Martin, travel reporter for the LA Times