Superintendent John Deasy walks through an economics classroom at Los Angeles High School during a surprise visit. Credit: Tami Abdollah/KPCC

As students head back to Los Angeles schools, district leaders and the teachers union continue their long-standing battle over teacher performance evaluations.

The newly imposed performance evaluation system, which is in its second year of testing, includes student standardized test scores in evaluating teachers and administrators. United Teachers Los Angeles has vigorously opposed the system, which would affect decisions on hiring, firing, tenure and pay increases.

Firing the latest salvo, union president Warren Fletcher this week told membership in a robo-call not to participate in the voluntary performance review, a move that Los Angeles Unified School District head John Deasy called “a real step backward” in relations between the two organizations.

This is not the first time Fletcher has requested teachers refuse to participate in the program — he made the same call to action last year during the initial phase of the evaluation process.

Deasy told AirTalk he was “very disappointed that we don’t seem to have a partner within leadership” at UTLA.

To further stir the waters, a bill that would impose collective bargaining on teacher evaluation discussions is up for review in the Senate Appropriations Committee today. AB 5, authored by Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes (D-Sylmar), has languished for over a year. Critics say its revival represents an attempt by California teachers to make an end run around the evaluation process, which a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge recently ruled is required by state law.

Deasy had three major criticisms to AB 5: he said it could result in the removal of the student achievement evaluation, something he does not see as “wise, good or appropriate”; it could continue to delay the process towards laying out a definitive evaluation system, and it would make everything within the process subjected to collective bargaining.

“Were districts in California unable to collective bargain [for the evaluation], does that mean we don’t have an evaluation process and we continue to stay where we are now?” he asked. Deasy said the current system is “a pitiful process that neither helps teachers nor identifies outstanding teaching or teaching in need of remediation.”

But Fletcher says the system LAUSD wants to implement is flawed beyond repair.

“There is a desire to reduce teaching to like a score on a restaurant — to an A, B or C — and teaching is a lot more complicated than that,” he said. “Although there are a lot of folks who would like to have a quick and dirty, ‘This person’s good, this person’s bad,’ based on statistical items, that’s not what teaching is and it certainly won’t help us improve.”

Fletcher reiterated the sentiment, repeating his belief that the system had a 25-percent error margin and ultimately, would do nothing to improve teachers’ performance.

“A school and a classroom is more complicated than scores and numbers,” he said.

But Deasy defended the evaluation system, saying the system Fletcher was referring to was not the one they were hoping to implement and it did not have a 25-percent margin of error. He compared the evaluation to an end of the year grade, much like the kind students receive after completing their courses. “If that’s all right for students why is it not for the adults who work with the students?” he said.

Deasy said he did not understand why any teacher would refuse to participate in the evaluation procedure, which is only a “tiny fraction” of overall, holistic teacher evaluation. This, he said, was about accountability.

“The overall majority of how you evaluate a teacher is classroom observation, feedback from parents and students, and a component — albeit a minor component that we’re putting forward — is how students do over time and how we’re accountable for how [they] do,” Deasy said.

Online and on the phones, there was a mix of support and opposition to the new evaluation program. But ultimately, what stood out was frustration with the public school system — a system that could ultimately determine the career and higher educational paths of students.

One caller, Richard from Bel Air, said the debate was, point-blank, “ridiculous.”

“It is UTLA and the teachers, who have for years, continually resisted, at all costs, any objective measure of teaching results,” he told AirTalk. “That’s what we’re paying for. I hate to say, I have four children who went through LAUSD, we’re paying for results. Teachers who don’t produce results ought to find another occupation … How well you’re teaching is evaluated in how well the students are doing or not. Stop trying to cloak it in all of these slogans and sayings. If you’re not teaching well, we have every right to test and every right to expect results.”

UTLA and LAUSD need to come to agreement soon; this December they must prove that student test scores are being used for evaluation in order to comply with a ruling from Superior Court Judge James Chalfant.

But as it stands now, UTLA and LAUSD remain at the bargaining table with the deadline looming overhead and no end in sight to their bickering.

Weigh In:
What’s next for L.A.’s embattled schools?

Should student test scores be used to evaluate teachers?

Guests:

John Deasy, Superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)

Warren Fletcher, President, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA)

The San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant is seen on April 6, 2012. Credit: Grant Slater/KPCC

Larry and our talented trio of Orange County journalists riff on the latest news from the O.C.: the judge’s decision on a Muslim group’s suit against the FBI, political intrigue in Santa Ana, the $50 million price tag on renovations to the Crystal Cathedral and the latest on the San Onofre power plant.

Guests:

Gustavo Arellano, editor of the OC Weekly and author of "Taco USA" and "Ask A Mexican"

Teri Sforza, OC Watchdog columnist for the Orange County Register

Norberto Santana, editor-in-chief of the Voice of OC, a non-profit investigative news agency that covers Orange County government and politics

A special forces group has gone after President Obama for the handling of the Osama bin Laden killing Credit: John Moore/Getty Images

A group of former U.S. intelligence officers and military operatives launched a media campaign yesterday admonishing President Barack Obama.

The Special Operations OPSEC Education Fund released a 22-minute film which accuses Obama of taking political credit for Osama bin Laden’s death. Also, it goes after the White House for committing intelligence leaks.

One of the talking heads in the film, Ben Smith, is identified as a Navy Seal and says, “Mr. President, you did not kill Osama bin Laden, America did. The work that the American military has done killed Osama bin Laden. You did not.” The group says it is nonpartisan in nature, but some media outlets are reporting that some of those associated with the campaign have ties to the Tea Party.

How legitimate are these accusations? Will these attacks hurt Obama’s campaign like the Swift Boat ads did for 2008 Democratic nominee, John Kerry? Or is this more bluster than bite?

Dishonorable Disclosures

Guests:

Scott Taylor, President of Special Operations OPSEC Education Fund, and 2010 candidate for Republican nomination to a Congressional seat in Virginia

David Mark, Editor-in-chief, Politix

Mark R. Jacobson, Spokesman for the Obama campaign; Senior advisor to the Truman National Security project; former Intelligence Officer who has served in the Army and Navy

Spanish couple Mauro and Juan Carlos play with their new baby girls. Credit: STRDEL/AFP/Getty Images

With marriage equality comes “invasive personal question” equality. New brides and grooms have faced it for generations, now it’s grooms and grooms (or brides and brides) who have to put on a cheery face in response to the query “When are you planning to have children?”

It’s a thoroughly modern dilemma; committed same-sex couples of past generations could hardly hope to start a family together. For most, it was never an option. Now, adoption and surrogacy have made gay parenting nearly as mainstream as gay marriage – and thus, the ubiquitous question. Family and friends may mean well, but it’s far from a casual decision.

And the same issues faced by heterosexual couples apply. One spouse may not see themselves as a parent, while the other longs to fill the nest and puree organic baby food. Financial worries and career plans may complicate the issue. And what about the changes a child can bring to a relationship?

Nevertheless, more and more gay couples are feeling the pressure from parents who want grandchildren and couple-friends who can’t wait to bond over toilet training.

Are you in a same-sex marriage, yet ambivalent about parenting? Are you thinking of starting a family – sometime – and fed up with the questioning? How do you and your partner handle what might seem like over-attention to your procreation plans?

If you're in a same-sex relationship, do you feel outside pressure to start a family?

Ever since the financial crisis of 2008, the economy has been on the forefront of every American’s mind.

With the election ratcheting up and November drawing ever closer, it’s getting even more pronounced. And when one considers the economy, it’s impossible not to consider the influence China has had on the United States. Since 2001, the country has been flooding U.S. markets with illegally subsidized properties. During that time period, we’ve seen 50,000 American factories disappear, and unemployment is a chronic problem for over 25 million Americans. To make matters worse, the U.S. owes China over $3 trillion due to its economic trade relationship with the totalitarian nation.

In his new documentary “Death by China,” Peter Navarro adapts the book of the same name he wrote with Greg Autry to the big screen. He tackles the issue of the relationship between the U.S. and China by interviewing a wide array of journalists, politicians and other experts.

How broken is this international economic situation? Is it possible to fix it before it’s too late? How did we get to the point where we owe this much to another country? How is it affecting our nation’s economy in the short and long term?

Guest:

Peter Navarro, Writer, Director and Producer of the documentary film Death By China; Professor of Economics at UC Irvine

What are your farmer's market favorites during the summer? Credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

The end of summer doesn’t only bring school back to session and cooler weather, but some of the very best fruits and vegetables of the year. And here in California, we have a lot to choose from.

To mark the changing season – and all that delicious produce – the LA Times is hosting a series of food-related events Labor Day Weekend. From cocktails and beer to LA’s best restaurants, the panels cover a variety of topics.

For all the home chefs out there, the first session focuses on farmers’ markets, and includes a panel of growers, and cooking challenge among local chefs. Seasonal produce, specialty vegetables and fruits, home-grown grains make for delicious, handcrafted meals.

What are your farmer’s market favorites this time of year? And what are the fruits and veggies you’re dying to try, but haven’t yet found the perfect recipe? LA Times food editor Russ Parsons and chef David LeFevre are in the house to answer your burning food questions.

Guests:

Russ Parsons, food editor for the Los Angeles Times

Chef David LeFevre of the restaurant Manhattan Beach Post, formerly of Downtown LA’s Water Grill

Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage at the "64th Primetime Emmy Awards" Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Late night show host Jimmy Kimmel is getting a new and improved time slot starting January 8. He’ll be head to head with Jay Leno and David Letterman, immediately following the evening news at 11:35 p.m.

“Kimmel is seen as the future at ABC … with both David Letterman and Jay Leno in their 60s, by repositioning Kimmel into the same time period, ABC sets up a situation where Kimmel … is the incumbent,” said Brian Lowry, media columnist and chief TV critic for Variety.

The late-night audience is seen as an important one even in the ever-fracturing television climate. Leno is the leader with 3.7-million nightly viewers followed by Letterman at 3 million, The “Daily Show” has 2.1 million and Jimmy Kimmel with a later timeslot receiving 1.8 million viewers.

Lowry doesn’t think that Kimmel’s show will change much in the earlier time slot but that he will stick to his core comedy routine.

The move is seen, to some, as a slap in the face to ABC News — whose prestigious news magazine, "Nightline," takes a backseat at 12:35 a.m., starting in March. Lowry believes that the move is not totally surprising as the “Nightline” brand doesn’t have as much clout as it did 10 years ago under the leadership of veteran journalist Ted Koppel.

The show will also get a one-hour primetime slot on a weekly basis.

Weigh In:
What’s the future of late night? And why are these ratings so important to the networks?

Guest:

Brian Lowry, media columnist and chief TV critic for Variety

This May 17, 2011 file photo shows U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., announcing his candidacy for U.S. Senate, in Creve Coeur, Mo. Credit: Jeff Roberson/AP

Yesterday, the deadline passed for Todd Akin to drop out of the race for a U.S. Senate seat in Missouri at 5 PM. This was much to the chagrin of Republican leaders, not just in Congress, but including the GOP’s presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, as well.

It’s abundantly clear that Akin’s own party has abandoned him, and in addition to the vocal opposition being expressed in the media to his choice to stay in and run, massive amounts of funds are being stripped from his campaign effort to the tune of $5 million. While the GOP has decidedly distanced itself from Akin, what hasn’t yet crystallized is what the party’s strategy will be in the long run. This is a very important seat for the GOP, and with vulnerable Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill still behind in the polls, they feel as if they are in striking distance to possibly regain a majority in the Senate.

With the deadline for filing passed, they can no longer run another candidate on the Republican ticket, but they could prop up a write-in candidate they believe has the chops to stand up to McCaskill. But how smart of a strategy is that? Would that hypothetical candidate just split the vote with Akin, leaving McCaskill victorious? What strategies are being thrown around by GOP consultants? Is Akin still (somehow) their best shot?

Guests:

Jonathan Wilcox, Republican strategist and former speech writer for Governor Pete Wilson

Darry Sragow, attorney and long time Democratic political strategist

It’s the stuff of daytime soaps, country music lyrics and French cinema, and it usually ends badly. There’s no good way to cheat on your spouse, is there?

Not true, says controversial sociologist Catherine Hakim. In a recent op-ed in The Telegraph, Hakim says that a “playfair,” with clearly defined rules and zero expectations that either partner will leave their spouse, is perfectly okay. In fact, she writes, it can be a healthy outlet for unmet expectations of intimacy at home - as long as everyone understands the parameters.

Just as the pill freed both men and women to break long-held taboos against premarital sex, the internet has changed the concept of dating for both singles and the well-hitched. Married people can now meet others who are outside their social circle and out for a fling, giving them ample opportunity to quietly arrange for a matinee or a weekend away. Other countries are way ahead of Britain and the U.S. in this respect, says Hakim. Nordic countries embrace “parallel relationships,” French couples accept that “adventures” are a part of married life. But are U.S attitudes towards l’affair shifting?

Hakim joined AirTalk to discuss her controversial ideas, shedding some light on her findings and conclusions.

“I noticed there have sprung up a whole variety of websites dedicated to marital dating,” she explained, referring to the sites dedicated to the “playfairs” she discusses in her soon-to-be-released book, The New Rules: Internet Dating, Playfairs and Erotic Power. “I was interested in exploring why this has happened, why there are so many new websites, who are the people who go down this road, what happens when they go down this road.”

Some online dating sites now cater to married men and women who are strictly in the market for a dalliance. And Hakim says the “security, anonymity, and discretion” of the internet is making such extramarital affairs all the more appealing -- users meet partners without risking being caught or hurting loved ones.

“Before people would only meet colleagues at work, in the neighborhood, family, et cetera, and of course, affairs in that context would be disastrous because people would notice. But through the websites people are meeting complete strangers,” Hakim explained. “They make sure the people they are going to meet are not going to be people related or connected to them in any way. … These tend to be affairs that are kept discreet, that don’t affect the main marital relationship and in many cases solve problems of marital relations gone sour, sex-starved marriages, or celibate marriages.”

On the phones and online listeners seemed to overwhelming disagree with Hakim. One user, Kat Lilore said wrote:

“I'm bothered by the lack of a third option to the two implied premises of: find extramarital relief so as to stay in an unhappy marriage, or ultimately leave. How about working on the marriage? Ostensibly you chose your partner because they satisfied you and you they; if things have soured or dulled, communication & effort would seem the prescription...”

However, there were individuals who said they had experienced the positive effects of extramarital affairs.

One man detailed how he had been the “other person” in the relationship, and in the end, it was only about mutual satisfaction -- the woman always returned to her husband and children. However, he admitted he may not be so keen on the idea if he had been the one cheated on.

Hakim says she is not proposing there is a more “progressive” idea of marriage, only that there are two models -- an Anglo-Saxon model based on absolute fidelity, and the continental European idea of possible infidelity and forgiveness because marriage is based on longevity and responsibility, not solely sex.

“The people who go on these websites are not seeing [marriage counselors],” she said. “They are people who define their marriage as happy and contented and working very well. They wouldn’t dream of turning up in the offices of counselors.

Weigh In:
Some online dating sites now cater to married men and women who are strictly in the market for a dalliance. Is having an affair an acceptable way to “fill in the blanks” in a marriage that has outlived its sexual vitality? Could you accept your spouse having a bit on the side, if it meant you could do the same? Have you explored the idea yourself?

Guest:

Catherine Hakim, author of the forthcoming book The New Rules: Internet Dating, Playfairs and Erotic Power (Gibson Square Books); social scientist at the Centre for Policy Studies and author of numerous books, including Erotic Capital: The Power of Attraction in the Boardroom and in the Bedroom (Basic Books)

What of this food will go to waste? Credit: tychay/Flickr (cc by_nc_nd)

Looked in the fridge lately? Are molds gathering on last week’s Fettuccine Alfredo or slime lurking on that heirloom lettuce?

A new report says 40 percent of food in the United States is thrown away. The Natural Resources Defense Council report says edible waste amounts to $165 billion in waste annually and is stressing natural resources. The biggest offender is the home consumer. The study shows that American families throw out 25 percent of food and drinks they buy and cheap, abundant food is blamed for the caviler tossing of edibles.

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery’s Food Scrap Management program reports: “Californians throw away nearly 6 million tons of food scraps each year. Rather than throwing away excess food, manage it through source reduction, feeding people, feeding animals, industrial uses, and composting for soil restoration.”

What can be done to curb food waste? How can consumers change habits to decrease waste? Will rising food prices solve the problem on its own?

Guests:

Jonathan Kaplan, Senior Policy Specialist, National Resources Defense Council. He supervises Dana Gunders who authored the report.

Diana Rivera, waste management specialist for CalRecycle, a state agency that has authority over solid waste in California

Campaigning for the Los Angeles City Council at age 26, with wife Barbara.

Officially, he’s Supervisor Yaroslavsky, holding one of the most powerful positions in local government. But you probably know him simply as Zev.

He’s been the silent candidate in the Los Angeles mayor’s race — with nearly 40 years of experience between his time in the City Council and on LA County’s Board of Supervisors, he might have upended every other campaign.

But as Zev announced on his blog today, he will not throw his name in the hat. “Four decades is long enough for any citizen to hold elective office,” Yaraoslavsky said in a statement. He plans to leave the political arena when his term at Supervisor is up in December, 2014.

Zev explains his decision on AirTalk:

On the decision not to run:
"I've been doing this job as an elected official ... for over 37.5 years. It was a close call for me because I care about the city and I thought I could bring my talents and expertise to help turn the city's fortunes around – I think the city has a lot of challenges but a lot of opportunities. But at the end of the day, I was pulled in the other direction. I don't want to be doing this for eight more years. I don't want to be doing this until I'm 73-years-old."

On how his family factored into the decision:
"It's an entirely personal decision. I have a new granddaughter up north; every time I go see her I feel very guilty about leaving my post. I think when I retire from elected office in 2014, it will be close to 40 years, and I think four decades is enough for any official to serve."

On what he's going to miss:
"I'm not sure I'm going to miss anything, to be honest with you. In life, you change jobs, you change careers, you retire ... and you move on."

On his plans for the future:
"I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about exactly what I'm going to do. I want to write, I may want to teach – I certainly will be involved in the body of politic in the city of Los Angeles in some fashion – but I'll do it as a citizen, and not as a politician, not as an elected official."

On how politics don't consume his whole life:
"It's hard for people to understand this, especially in the political class, but my life doesn't revolve around coveting the next office. I've only held two offices in 37 years ... I've been very fulfilled and very gratified by the opportunities that I've been given by the people who elected me."

On how his lifestyle will change:
"I don't know. I'm a 'type A' personality, I've burned the candle at both ends, I haven't had a legitimate vacation of more than five days in 25 years. I thrive on this and I love it, but I'm at the point where I can say honestly to myself and to my constituents that come December 2nd, 2014, I will have had enough and I want to do some other things."

On the difficulty of the coming mayoral election and its impact on his decision:
"Obviously no election is a slam dunk, but I don't think anybody would argue ... that I certainly was right in believing I had as good a shot as anybody winning that election."

On how the length of the term was an issue:
"It wasn't about the election. It was about doing it for eight more years. Mayor of Los Angeles — mayor of any big city — is a very high-stress job, not all of it productive, but all of it stress. Doing that till I'm 73 years old, then what? I don’t want to regret in 2021 the things that I didn't do."

On whether or not health reasons influenced his decision:
"Absolutely no health reasons. I did one of my fastest four mile runs this morning. I'm watching my health very carefully. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes about 12 years ago, and that's well under control."

On whether or not he'll endorse someone in the mayor's race:
"I have not given that any thought. It's obviously too early for me to even think about that, but I know them all. They're all good people ... I'll talk to all of them. I heard from a couple of them already this morning, and I'll try to be as much help in giving them my unsolicited advice as possible. I've never played that game of exacting concessions in exchange for an endorsement. First of all, I don't think that endorsements are all that they're cracked up to be. I think people vote for the candidate and they're a lot less influenced by the people who support them than most of us think they are."

On the issues the next mayor will have to face:
"I'm going to be an advocate with all of them on the issues that I think are important. I think transportation in the city of Los Angeles is the critical issue. Extending the subway to the West Los Angeles Veteran's Administration is long overdue ... The next mayor needs to be unambiguously committed to the extension of that subway and the other regional transportation projects. I would hope that every candidate endorses Measure J on the ballot this November, which would extend the half cent sales tax."

WEIGH IN:

What’s Yaroslavksy’s legacy in LA? What does this mean for the mayoral race? And can the man who entered politics at age 26 really step away?

Guest:

Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles County Supervisor representing the Third District, which comprises much of the City of Los Angeles, including the San Fernando Valley, Hollywood and Los Feliz, the Wilshire corridor, and West Los Angeles; the cities of Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Malibu, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Westlake Village and San Fernando; and unincorporated areas including Topanga and the Santa Monica Mountains

Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park Credit: Kevin Moore/flickr

Sacramento is abuzz this week over what not might at first seem like a sexy subject: the state’s environmental regulation. Just after the EPA was created forty two years ago, California passed the most stringent state law to safeguard the environment.

The California Environmental Quality Act or CEQA as it’s commonly called, intentionally slows developers down. New projects must disclose the impacts they’ll have — like noise, pollution, and traffic—and take steps to mitigate those negative effects. Now, business groups say the law, while well-intentioned, is out of date. The state has passed over 100 environmental statutes since the ‘70s and CEQA is no longer needed.

President and CEO of the LA Chamber of Commerce, Gary Toebben, supports changing CEQA and says that it has allowed businesses to become common targets of non-environmental lawsuits.

“This legislation does not lower any environmental standards in our state and it does not exempt any projects from these environmental standards,” Toebben said. He explained that the bill would only stop people from abusing CEQA for their own gains.

Those who support changing CEQA often complain that the rules are too complex. The regulation costs money and jobs, and contributes to the sense that California is hostile to business.

But, environmental groups counter, this is a cheap attempt to use the bad economy as an excuse to save money and time at the cost of average citizens. Lawmakers have been waiting to see whether a bill would be introduced that could be passed quickly, before the state legislature adjourns, August 31.

State Senator Michael Rubio complied Wednesday night, turning his bill about King River fisheries into an echo of the talking points that have been circulating the capital.

Opponents to the change, like the senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council, David Pettit believe that by affecting CEQA’s mitigation process, the bill proposed by Senator Rubio, SB 317, would only weaken the states environmental policies.

“The proposals would gut CEQA. It would cut the heart out of CEQA. The desire to eliminate lawsuits for non-environmental reasons...[the] Rubio proposal has nothing to do with that,” Pettit said, “If that’s a change people wanted it, it’s easily done and it can be done in a regular session with committee hearings and not rushed through at the last minute.”

He point out CEQA’s mitigation requirement was much more stringent than any other state or federal law, and empowers people to take on developers in their area who may be responsible for such things as increased air pollution.

But Toebben was vehement that Pettit had entirely misread and misunderstood SB 317 bill.

“The thing about this law...is if [environmental policy is] covered in any other part of the law [that] the legislators or local city council members have written, it will still be covered,” Toebben said. “It will not allow people to file frivolous lawsuits that have nothing to do with the environment.”

Ideas that companies when approaching development projects would operate as if by a “checklist,” focusing on local and zoning laws without considering bi-products of development like air quality was a “bogus claim,” he said.

Pettit acknowledged that abuses can and do occur — although he claims they are rare — when it comes to CEQA, but that such abuses occur in all realms of the law.

Weigh In:

Would this proposal streamline or gut the landmark law? What do you think? Is it time to scale back environmental regulation? And if so, does it need to happen right away? Or should our state representatives wait until next term?

Guests:

David Pettit, senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council; supported speeding up CEQA requirements for LA football stadium project; but opposes current efforts to change the law

Gary Toebben, President and CEO of the LA Chamber of Commerce; member of the CEQA Working Group which is pushing for changes

A father and son watch batting practice before the start of the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds on August 11, 2012 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Credit: David Banks/Getty Images

A team of researchers in Iceland has made a genetic discovery that could have major implications for older dads. Those who become fathers later in life, they say, pass on genetic mutations to their children at nearly double the rate of younger dads.

The child of a 20-year-old dad has 25 random mutations that can be traced to his father, while the child of a father in his forties can have up to 65. By contrast, women of any age pass on around 15. While most of the mutations were insignificant, the researchers did link them to an increased likelihood of diseases such as autism and schizophrenia.

Out of the 78 father/mother/child genomes sequenced, over half of the children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and 21 with schizophrenia. In fact, the figures indicate that increased rates of autism over recent decades could account for 20 to 30 percent of autism cases.

Guest:

Kári Stefánsson, M.D., co-founder and CEO of deCODE genetics Inc., and senior author on the study

Arthur Caplan, Professor of Medical Ethics at New York University Langone Medical Center

Do sleep patterns differ among ethnic groups? Credit: CarbonNYC via Flickr / Creative Commons

The correlation between sleep quality and overall health has long been known; lack of shut-eye has been shown to contribute to health problems such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. More recently, sleep researchers have also seen a disparity in quality and quantity of sleep among different racial and ethnic groups.

Several studies have found that minorities are more likely to have unhealthy sleep patterns such as taking longer to fall asleep, shorter sleep times and more interrupted sleep. In fact, one study found that on average, black men slept 82 minutes less a night than white women. And while Mexican immigrants seem to sleep well, their U.S.-born children are much more likely to toss and turn.

Why the differences? Social scientists point to factors such as higher poverty rates, greater concentration of minorities and immigrants in inner cities, stress resulting from unemployment, multiple jobs and odd work hours. Cultural differences, too, play a part: children of blacks and Hispanics are less likely to have regularly enforced bedtimes and routines than white children, which researchers say translates into less classroom success.

How to break this cycle of social, educational and economic disadvantage? Should public health policy put more emphasis on healthy sleep?

Guests:

Lauren Hale, Ph.D. , associate professor of preventive medicine, Stonybrook University Graduate Program in Public Health

Michael Grandner, PhD., University of Pennsylvania Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology

Actors Dax Shepard, Kristen Bell and Jason Bateman attend the after party for the premiere of Open Road Films' "Hit and Run" on August 14, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Larry Mantle is joined by KPCC film critics Wade Major and Claudia Puig to review this week’s new films, including Hit & Run, Premium Rush, Robot & Frank, Compliance, Red Hook Summer and more.
TGI Filmweek!

Guests:

Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and boxoffice.com

Claudia Puig, film critic for KPCC and USA Today

Trailer for Hit & Run

Trailer for Premium Rush

Trailer for Robot & Frank

Trailer for Compliance

Lance Armstrong will be stripped of all seven of his Tour de France victories Credit: AFP/AFP/Getty Images

He was once the most revered and admired cyclist in the world. He beat cancer and came back to win the grueling Tour de France seven times.

But that untarnished legacy has slowing been unraveling. Yesterday, Armstrong opted out of taking U.S. Anti-Doping Agency charges to arbitration. That decision triggered the agency to forfeit all his race results from August 1, 1998 to the present. He will also be banned for life from all competitive cycling competitions.

Armstrong strongly denies the charges and says the USADA was on a “witch hunt” and has no physical evidence against him. One of Armstrong’s sponsors, Nike, says it will continue to support the athlete and his foundation for cancer survivors.

What does this mean for Armstrong legacy? How will this affect and change competitive cycling? What’s next for Armstrong and the USADA case?

Guest:

Daniel M. Rosen, author of Dope: A History of Performance Enhancement in Sports from the Nineteenth Century to Today (Praeger)

Will a consolidation of waste management streamline the industry or bottle neck services? Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Solid waste collection is about to get even more consolidated. The City of LA has plans to give just a handful of trash collectors a franchise to pick up the waste from commercial buildings and apartments.

But, a business coalition says the plan isn’t so efficient. These larger buildings buy the service from private companies, unlike residents in houses or small apartments who set out their bins to get picked up by city collectors. The coalition, known as ACE, says giving over trash duty to just one or two companies would hurt small trash haulers, cost jobs, and lead to more trucks heading in and out of the San Fernando Valley.

Environmental groups and others believe the companies in operation have widely differing standards on recycling, and their many banners make it virtually impossible to know which companies are responsible for neighborhood nuisances, like leaking dumpsters. Officials are holding a meeting to give both sides a chance to weigh in, Wednesday.

Should it be open season on trash pickup? Or is a more streamlined approach the best route for the long haul?

Guests:

Sean Rossall, Spokesperson, Angelenos for a Clean Environment – comprised of business groups and the Los Angeles County Disposal Association

Greg Good, Campaign Director, Don't Waste L.A. – a coalition spearheaded by the labor-affiliated Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy

Phyllis Diller poses with her photos at her home in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles Credit: Chris Pizzello/AP

On Monday, Hollywood lost one of its greatest icons. Phyllis Diller, accomplished stand-up comic and an actress with a career that spanned decades, was a true pioneer for women in comedy.

With a prop cigarette holder in hand and a litany of self-deprecating jokes about her looks and cooking, she paved the way for women to go up on stage and be seen as equal to, if not funnier than, male comedians. Tina Fey, Sarah Silverman and Chelsea Handler all owe something to the legendary Diller, as she cleared the way and the stage for their later success.

With numerous appearances on late night shows throughout the years, doling out one-liners punctuated by her signature laugh, she has immortalized herself in the comedic canon. What is your favorite Phyllis Diller moment? How can the effects of her legacy be seen today?

Guest:

Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times Television Critic

Credit: Courtesy of Cinecon

One of the greatest aspects of life in Hollywood is the unprecedented access its citizens have to the world of film. Next week, the Cinecon Classic Film Festival kicks off to celebrate movies from the earlier days of the entertainment industry.

More than two dozen films will be screened in 35mm as they were originally intended at the Egyptian Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. For most of these titles, this is a once in a lifetime experience as they have never been released in any medium or even shown on television. Several were thought to be lost forever, particularly some of the silent films which will be screened. One highlight of the festival will be “Gentle Julia.” The 1936 screen adaptation of Pulitzer Prize winner Booth Tarkington’s novel will show with two of its stars in the audience, Marsha Hunt and Jane Withers, marking the 76th anniversary of its original release.

Anyone with an appreciation for classic movie and film history will definitely find something interesting at Cinecon. What in the schedule jumps out to you? Will you catch one of these flicks? It might just be your only chance…

Guest:

Robert S. Birchard, Cinecon president and film historian, author of “Cecil B. DeMille's Hollywood,” and has appeared in such movie-related documentaries as TCM's “Moguls and Movie Stars.”

Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Today marks the beginning of the Republican National Convention in Tampa Bay, Florida. While Mitt Romney has long been the GOP nominee, this event will serve as the formal coronation of his candidacy as the Republican standard bearer and chief opposition to President Barack Obama. It will also provide Americans with a more pointed view of his chosen running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan from Wisconsin.

Additionally, the official party platform will be adopted and presented to the American people. Republicans are wasting no time and hope to immediately start attacking Obama on his perceived failures with the theme of tonight being “We Can Do Better.” The following themes for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday respectively are “We Built It,” “We Can Change It,” and “We Believe in America.” AirTalk is live at the convention hall to give listeners a peek into this momentous political event and set the tone for what’s happening on the ground in Tampa.

What issues will arise on each themed night? What specific points will the speakers at the convention raise not only about the difference between Romney and Obama, but between the two parties themselves? What will America’s future under the GOP look like? With a roster including House Majority Leader John Boehner, Senator Rand Paul and Ann Romney, who are you looking forward most to seeing on the dais? Who will make the biggest splash?

Guests:

Shawn Steel, Deputy Permanent Co-Chairman for the Republican National Committee’s quadrennial convention; California national committeeman, RNC; former California Republican Party chairman

Frank Stoltze, KPCC Reporter covering the RNC; Stoltze was at the California delegation which had some significant political figures in attendance