A gardener walks past a row of sprinklers watering plants and foliage in front of an apartment complex in South Pasadena, California on January 21, 2014.; Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

Last night, the State Water Resources Control Board unanimously approved Governor Brown’s executive order for cities to cut water use by 25%.

The vote comes in light of the latest data that shows cumulative water savings since last summer came in at under 10%. On average, cities will have to cut 25% of their water use to be in line with regulations that take effect this summer, although water suppliers face individual goals ranging from 8% to 36%.

Among the municipalities that will face the steepest cuts are Beverly Hills (151 gallons per person in January) and La Cañada Flintridge (191 gallons per person in January). Some of these cities have already passed water conservation measures, although how much they can curb their denizens use is yet to be seen.

For example, Beverly Hills is banning draining and refilling of swimming pools, limiting landscape irrigation to two days a week, and mandating car washes at commercial venues. But despite raising the maximum fine for water wasting to $1,000, the guidelines are unclear regarding the extent to which the city will enforce the regulations and fine and/or cut off water to violators.

What restrictions should cities place on their residents, and how will they enforce them?

Guests:

Frances Spivy-Weber, vice chairwoman for the Water Resources Control Board

Dr. Julian Gold, MD, Mayor of Beverly Hills

Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots is surrounded by the media after defeating the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 during Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on February 1, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona.; Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Reports are coming out today that a Patriots employee likely deflated the footballs used for the AFC Championship game and that quarterback Tom Brady was aware of it.

What do you think of this? Do you think the Patriots Superbowl title should be revoked? Vote in our poll!

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT CONCERNING FOOTBALLS USED DURING THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ON JANUARY 18, 2015

Guest:

Mike Tanier, NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report

Geoffrey "Geoff" Rapp, Co-Editor, The Sports Law Blog; Harold A. Anderson Professor of Law and Values, The University of Toledo

February 1968: A section of the gallery of the famous circular Reading Room at the British Museum in London.; Credit: Peter King/Getty Images

Libraries are endangered. With the rise of the Internet and the ease with which we can get any information online, many are questioning the usefulness of the public library in the digital age.

In “Bibliotech,” author John Palfrey argues that libraries are actually more important than ever, but to survive, they also need to change and adapt.

Guest:

John Palfrey, author of “Bibliotech: Why Libraries Matter More Than Ever in the Age of Google” (Basic Books, 2015). He is also President of the Board of Directors of the Digital Public Library of America

25th November 1963: A group shot of the Beatles, Ringo Starr (in the background), George Harrison (1943 - 2001), Paul McCartney and John Lennon (1940 - 1980), pictured during a performance on Granada TV's Late Scene Extra television show filmed in Manchester, England on November 25, 1963.; Credit: Fox Photos/Getty Images

A recent study by two London universities analyzed the evolution of American music in the past 50 years.

Using computers to analyze over 17-thousand songs from the Billboard Hot 100, they were able to pinpoint the exact years that music changed direction: 1964, 1983 and 1991. The report also challenges the popular belief that music quality has suffered over the years.

Examining popular music over the past 50 years, some trends came to light. In the early 60s, dominant seventh chords, like those commonly found in jazz and blues, had disappeared from charts. The sound was replaced by more aggressive-sounding British rock from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. British rock would become the sound of the “first revolution.” Funk from the 70s gave rise to the power chords, drum machines and synthesizers that dominated the airwaves in the 80s. By 1991, rap was king.

The study also revealed that the artists who lead each major breakthrough in music would frequently combine harmonic and rhythmic elements present in different genres to create a new sound.

Today on AirTalk, we examine the top songs of each era and try to predict where popular music could go from here.

The evolution of popular music: USA 1960–2010

Guest:

Matthias Mauch, Ph.D., Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow with the Centre for Digital Music at Queen Mary University of London. He’s also one of the co-authors of the study “The evolution of popular music: USA 1960-2010.”

Cattle walk on dried grass on April 23, 2015 in Raymond, California.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Temperatures are heating up across California, leaving animals having to travel much further for water.

Jason  Holley, supervising wildlife biologist for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife joins us to discuss how the drought is disrupting natural food chains in our region. We’ll take a closer look at whether wildlife will be able to survive the changing climate and what these changes could mean to our ecosystem. That’s ahead on AirTalk.

Guest:

Jason Holley, Supervising Wildlife Biologist for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Don Richardson, Curator, California Living Museum – a ZAA accredited Zoo

An employee walks through the lobby of Google's Washington headquarters, January 8, 2015 in Washington, DC. ; Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

A new study recently published by non-profit, Ascend reveals some startling facts about the role that Asians play in Silicon Valley.

Co-authored by former Cisco Systems vice president, Buck Gee, the report shows that, while Asians make up 27% of the professionals working in tech, significantly fewer hold leadership positions: only about 14%. Conversely, whites occupy about 62% of jobs and over 80% of senior leadership roles. Within the two groups, Asian females fared even worse.

While a bias certainly seems to exist in the tech sector, some specialists suggest that young Asian professionals are being taught job skills, but not the social skills necessary for climbing the corporate ladder.

Today on AirTalk, we examine the issue with the author of the study, and the woman who is in charge staffing for one of the largest employers in San Jose.

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT: Asian American Leaders in Silicon Valley

Guests:

Buck Gee, Executive advisor for Ascend, a non-profit pan-Asian organization for business professionals. He helped author the study. He is also a  former executive at Cisco Systems.

Kim Marcelis, VP of strategic planning at Cisco Systems, a major networking company and the second-largest employer in San Jose. She is not affiliated with the study and can speak about the challenges facing female Asians.

Medea Benjamin of CodePink protests as Director of the National Security Agency Gen. Keith Alexander (L) waits for the beginning of a hearing before the House (Select) Intelligence Committee October 29, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. ; Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

A federal appeals court ruled this morning that the National Security Agency's collection of data on every American's phone call violates the law.

It's the first time an appellate court has ruled on the so-called metadata program, but the judge declined to take any immediate action, preferring to wait for Congress to act. What are the implications of the ruling as Congress debates reauthorizing the Patriot Act?

Guests:

Josh Gerstein, senior reporter for POLITICO who’s been reporting on the NSA ruling

Members of the California State legislature applaud as California Governor Jerry Brown (C) arrives to deliver the State of the State address at the California State Capitol on January 31, 2011 in Sacramento, California. ; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

How much should lawmakers be worth? How much should the Governor and state legislators be paid?

That question will be taken up Monday by the California Citizens Compensation Commission.  Base pay for state senate and assembly members is $97,000 a year.  The Governor gets $177,000.  That's well below what big city mayors get, and somewhat lower than Governors in New York and Pennsylvania.

What should the commission take into account when approving the next salaries? Comps for the same job in other regions? Responsibilities of the job versus what private sector employees make? Performance of the current officeholders? Peg it to current pay, but adjust for inflation?

Guests:

Dan Walters, political columnist for the Sacramento Bee

Saado Abboud, Ph.D., Principal with Keystone Compensation Group, a compensation consulting firm in Minnesota.

; Credit: Amanda Tipton/Flickr

What do you do when you catch a water-waster in the act? Do you walk on by? Do you gently remind them that California is in the midst of a devastating drought? Or do you tweet a picture of the guilty party and shame them from the safety of the internet?

If you want to inspire a positive change in your neighborhood, modern etiquette expert Amy Alkon has some tips. She shared her suggestions with AirTalk:

• Be constructive when pointing out water waste. Starting the conversation by saying “You probably didn’t know …” will help prevent a defensive reaction.
• Print out an article about the drought to share with your neighbor. Not everybody is aware of how serious the drought is.
• Check your motivations. The most effective conversations are motivated by compassion. Your neighbors are likely to realize if your motives aren’t pure, and that could harm your relationship indefinitely.
• Write a nice note. It’s okay to be afraid of a potentially awkward conversation. Writing a note will give you a chance to choose your words as well as give your neighbors a chance to plan their response.
• Build a neighborly relationship. This approach requires a bit more effort. If you’ve never spoken to your neighbors before, you probably don’t want your first interaction to be over water waste.
• Post water-saving suggestions for the entire neighborhood in a common area. Community bulletin boards or telephone poles are a great place to start. This way, nobody has to feel singled-out.
• Use a web translator. As neighborhoods continue to become more diverse, language barriers are bound to arise. If you don’t trust the internet, and you’re really determined, there are plenty human translators on sites like Fiverr or even Fourerr.

If all else fails, you can report water waste to the DWP here.

Press the play button above to hear our roundtable discussion about drought etiquette.

Guests:

Amy Alkon, etiquette expert and author of the book, “Good Manners For Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck”

Kerry Cavanaugh, editorial writer for the LA Times

Chuck Klosterman, writer and former-ethicist, New York Times  

Britain's Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party David Cameron and his wife Samantha are applauded by staff upon entering 10 Downing Street in London on May 8, 2015, after visiting Queen Elizabeth II, a day after the British general election. ; Credit: STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP/Getty Images

British Prime Minister David Cameron won last night’s parliamentary election.

Now with the election out of the way, what will this victory mean for U.S. policy in the fight against ISIS? Michael Geary, Global Fellow at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC and professor of European Studies at Maastricht University in the Netherlands joins us to discuss U.S. and U.K. relations and what the victory means for the future alliance between President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron.

Guest:

Michael Geary, Global Fellow at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC and professor of European Studies at Maastricht University in the Netherlands

A police line keeps the public out of the scene of a car crash in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis.; Credit: Tony Webster/Flickr

They walk among us, even though we don’t see them. They are the protectors of the realm, the watchers on the wall, the swift hand of justice that reaches out when all hope is lost.

They are the Masonic Fraternal Order of Police...and they don’t actually exist.

A former aide to California attorney general Kamala Harris and two others now have to deal with the real justice system for allegedly operating a fake police department that claimed it had ties to dating back thousands of years to the Knights of Templar. Tonette Hayes, David Henry, who claimed to be the ‘chief’ of the department, and Brandon Kiel, Harris’ former aide, were all arrested last week and face a smattering of charges, including impersonating a police officer and misusing a state ID.

The real police first found out about the group after Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Captain Roosevelt Johnson had a strange encounter with three individuals who came into the Santa Clarita station in February. It left Captain Johnson so suspicious that he had them investigated following their visit. As it turns out, the three had been going to law enforcement agencies across California, introducing themselves as the Masonic Fraternal Police Department. Their website claims that it is “the oldest and most respected organization in the ‘world.’”

Was this group formed for a purpose or were these just three people who wanted to play cops? What is the history groups like these in the U.S. and around the world? Can we compare the Masonic Fraternal Order of Police to groups like Sovereign Citizens?

Guests:

Roosevelt Johnson, Captain of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Santa Clarita Valley Station. He was the first to investigate the suspects after a February meeting.

Anthony Lemieux, investigator with the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START)

Circa 1930: Leo Nomis, Lt R H Robinson, Jean Arthur and Frank Clark are some of the cast of Paramount's 'Young Eagles', seen with the director William A Wellman (far right) in one of the rare moments when they are all on the ground together.; Credit: Clifton L. Kling/Getty Images

Maybe you remember classic movies like "Wings," "The Call of the Wild," "The Public Enemy," or "A Star Is Born."

What you don’t remember is the man behind the camera who flew planes and was awarded the Croix de Guerre (“Cross of War”) during the Great War, directed almost a hundred films, and raised a loving family.

His son, William Wellman, Jr., takes us back to the golden age of Hollywood to share his father’s story.

What’s your favorite “Wild Bill” film? How did his innovative techniques such as putting cameras on planes change the technical and creative sides of filmmaking? If you or someone you know worked with him, share your stories below and give us a call!

WELLMAN WILL BE AT UCLA FILM AND TELEVISION ARCHIVE ON SATURDAY MAY 9 AS WELL AS SIGNING HIS BOOK AT VROMAN’S BOOKSTORE IN PASADENA ON SUNDAY MAY 24

Guest:

William Wellman, Jr., son of William “Wild Bill” Wellman and author of “Wild Bill Wellman: Hollywood Rebel” (Pantheon Books, 2015).

ctress/producer Reese Witherspoon (L) and Actress Sofia Vergara attend the premiere of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "Hot Pursuit" at TCL Chinese Theatre on April 30, 2015 in Hollywood, California. ; Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Patt Morrison and KPCC film critics Amy Nicolson and Andy Klein will review this week’s new film releases, including the buddy comedy "Hot Pursuit," featuring Sofia Vergara and Reese Witherspoon, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s latest movie, "Maggie," and the Jack Black comedy “The D Train.”

TGI-Filmweek!

Guests:

Amy Nicholson, KPCC film critic and chief film critic at L.A. Weekly

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

The Black Riders, a new generation of The Black Panthers, stand at the corner of 41st St. and S Central Ave, where the LAPD and The Black Panthers had a shoot out in 1969.; Credit: Mae Ryan/KPCC

The threat and human cost of terrorism have not strayed from the minds of Americans since the attacks on the World Trade Towers.

But there was a time in the 1970s when bombings by domestic extremists groups were a daily occurrence. The groups behind these attacks went by such names as The Weather Underground, the Black Liberation Army, the Symbionese Liberation Army, and others.

Vanity Fair correspondent Bryan Burrough details the history of these groups and more in “Days of Rage.” The book contains interviews with members of these underground groups who have never spoken publicly before.

Guest:

Bryan Burrough, author of “Days of Rage: America’s Radical Underground, The FBI, and the Forgotten Age of Revolutionary Violence” (Penguin, 2015); special correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine

The Westminster Elementary School auditorium was packed Thursday night for a meeting about the fatal LAPD shooting of Brandon Glenn, an unarmed homeless black man.; Credit: Frank Stoltze

The LA County homeless census is just concluded, and new numbers are expected today.  

One of the biggest areas of growth is Venice, where a homeless man was recently shot and killed by police after getting into a dispute with bar patrons and a bouncer. It's just the latest example of conflict between residents, business owners, and people living on Venice's streets, boardwalk, and beach.

Last week’s fatal shooting of a homeless man in Venice Beach, highlights yet again the problem of homelessness in Southern California. Reports show that the homeless population has increased in Los Angeles and homeless advocacy groups are speaking out about the need for more to be done to help the marginalized population in Venice.

Executive Director Va Lecia Adams Kellum of St Joseph Center in Venice shares what services are available in Venice and many new partnerships underway. We’ll also check in with KPCC Correspondent Frank Stoltze about police and homeless relations in the wake of last week’s shooting.

Click here to read the full story

Guests:

Va Lecia Adams Kellum, Executive Director of St Joseph Center Venice 

Frank Stoltze, KPCC Correspondent

A McDonald's employee prepares an order during a one-day hiring event at a McDonald's restaurant on April 19, 2011 in San Francisco, California. ; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

In an effort to battle slumping sales, new McDonalds CEO Steve Easterbrook is making some big changes to the iconic burger joint.

He plans to not only streamline the company’s corporate structure and sell off several thousand stores, but also make changes to the menu and service practices. McDonald's has said it plans to bring back its third-pound sirloin burgers, and is also testing breakfast bowls here in Southern California that include kale. they’re also considering serving breakfast 24 hours in some markets and even a delivery service.

McDonald's is, however, up against some formidable forces working against it. Millennials and younger customers today tend to lean more toward gourmet burger joints like Smashburger or Five Guys. Consumers are also more health conscious than they were in the past, meaning McDonald's and other fast food giants must do more to provide healthy options and be transparent about ingredients.

What does the future of fast food marketing look like? How will restaurants like McDonalds, Burger King, and Wendy’s continue to bring in customers in an age where people are more health-conscious than ever before?

Guests:

Nancy Luna, author of “The Fast Food Maven” blog at OCRegister.com where she writes about food and the fast food industry. She’s also a staff writer for the OC Register and tweets @FastFoodMaven.

Jeff Davis, chief operating officer at Sandelman, a market research and consulting firm focusing on fast food restaurants and casual dining.

Thomas Gibson stands next to the garden he designed in the City Hall Lawn park. The park is now home to many plants that are native to California.; Credit: Andres Aguila/KPCC

For many people, a lush green lawn is a point of pride.

It takes time, dedication, and lots of water to keep it thriving throughout the year.

Is the lawn here to stay or is it a thing of the past, as more of the west faces extreme drought?

Saudi's newly appointed King Salman (R) meets with US President Barack Obama at Erga Palace in Riyadh on January 27, 2015.; Credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

It’s a busy start to the week for President Obama, as he hosts a summit of leaders of Arab states this week at camp David.

However, one of the most important of the leaders will be conspicuously absent. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has decided he won’t be attending the summit or the meeting that he was supposed to have with the President ahead of that summit. The White House has also kept quiet its negotiations with China over a nuclear deal. The current one's expiring at the end of the year. What's included in the renewal is controversial.

The nuclear technology to be sold to China could be used for military purposes.It's controversial, given some of the nuclear technology to be sold to China could be adapted for military purposes. The Senate Foreign Relations committee is being briefed today, but it's unclear if Congress will approve. We'll hear the Administration's case.

Guests:

Steven Mufson, reporter for the Washington Post covering the White House. His article on the U.S.-China nuclear deal is up on the Washington Post’s website today.

Mike Viqueria, senior Washington correspondent for Al-Jazeera America.

Paul Krekorian at a Los Angeles City Council meeting on August 6th, 2013.; Credit: Mae Ryan/KPCC

As Los Angeles debates the merits of various proposals to increase the minimum wage, LA City Councilmember Paul Krekorian has his own plan.

Unlike Mayor Garcetti’s plan to raise the minimum wage to $13.25 by 2017 or the more ambitious plan of other council members to raise it to $15.25 by 2019, Mr. Krekorian is striking a balance at $13.50 by 2018 and $15.25 by 2021.

Relative to the other plans, Krekorian’s is quite complex. Among other details, his plan includes: a lower minimum wage for teenage workers, apprentices, and transitional workers; exemptions for certain non-profits; and a one-year implementation delay for businesses with fewer than 50 employees. So far, the plan does not deal with the controversial issues surrounding tipped workers’ pay.

What do you think about Councilmember Krekorian’s minimum wage proposal? How will the Los Angeles City Council find a way forward that mollifies both labor and business groups?

Guests:

Paul Krekorian, Los Angeles City Councilmember for the 2nd District

Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman with the 10 finalists at FOX TV's 'American Idol', broadcast live from Television City in Los Angeles, Ca. Tuesday, July 16, 2002.; Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

After 15 seasons of letting the people choose (maybe) America’s next big recording artist, Fox has announced that next year’s season of American Idol will be its last.

Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick, Jr. will come back as judges for one more season of the iconic program, which first aired back in 2002.

Throughout the years and up until recently, the show has been a ratings juggernaut, and it’s annually one of the most anticipated reality show premieres on television.

While show winners like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood owe almost all of their fame and fortune to American Idol, many other winners haven’t seen quite as much widespread success.

In certain seasons, runners-up or others eliminated earlier in the competition have had success than the winners themselves. Jennifer Hudson placed seventh in the show’s third season, yet became one of the biggest recording artists of the mid-2000s and is the only Idol contestant to win a Grammy and an Oscar.

How will American Idol’s impact on pop culture be remembered?

Guest:

Richard Rushfield, author of “American Idol: The Untold Story” and editor-in-chief of Hitfix