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POLL: Do Californians have a right to know if food has been genetically engineered?

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"MON 810", a variety of genetically modified maize (corn) developed by Monsanto Company. Credit: ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images

We’ve put “plastic or paper” to rest, but that doesn’t mean our choices at the grocery store are getting any simpler. We may soon have to decide between genetically engineered food or not. That’s if voters approve Proposition 37, or the “California right to know genetically engineered food act,” in November.

Prop. 37 would require companies that produce genetically modified food products to label them as such in California.

Those in favor of the measure point to the fact that other countries around the world have mandatory label requirements for genetically modified food products.

"This type of labeling is already in place in 50 other countries, and what we're seeing here in California is a huge people's movement for the right to know what's in our food. This is just a basic human right," said Stacey Malkan, spokesperson for the Yes on 37 campaign.

She added that we’re entitled to know if and how our food is genetically engineered, because of the potential risks such foods have to our health (actual health effects have not been officially determined).

"This corn has been on the food supply in the United States for 20 years, and it's in many of the foods on supermarket shelves. It's in corn chips, and kid's cereal, and all sorts of foods," Malkan continued. "There's obviously a need for rigorous independent research for these foods that hasn't happened."

Detractors of the statute claim it’s a divisive food labeling proposal designed to waste taxpayer dollars, and that it will inspire frivolous lawsuits and increase food costs by the billions.

Greg Palla, a farmer from Kern County and spokesperson for the No on 37 campaign, said like others, he doesn't want his loved ones ingesting unsafe food. But according to Palla, the initiative is more complicated than slapping a label on a product.

"I don't think anyone is opposed to consumers knowing as much as they can about the food they eat," he said. "But the fact of the matter is this particular initiative is so poorly crafted and so underhanded in a number of ways that they've gone about trying to get the voters unsuspectingly pass a measure based on a simple approach of wanting to know more about food."

He said hidden aspects include completely exempting whole classes of food products, such as alcohol, and the potential for nuisance lawsuits that could cost people working in the industry time and money.

Food giants opposed to the measure, such as Pepsi, Nestle and Campbell's Soup, along with bioengineering companies like Monsanto and DuPont, have raised over $32 million in total campaign cash, almost 10 times the amount raised by its supporters. Interestingly, big names in the organic aisle, such as Kashi and Horizon Organic, have also joined the anti-labeling effort.

Answer our poll and post your opinions in the comments!:

Your view on Prop 37: Do you have a right to know if food has been genetically engineered?

Weigh In:
Why is so much money being spent to defeat this measure? And if it doesn’t pass, is it only a matter of time before labeling becomes a federal mandate? Do you worry about the health effects of genetically engineered foods?

Guests:

Stacy Malkan, spokesperson for the Yes on 37 campaign

Greg Palla, farmer from Kern County and spokesperson for the No on 37 campaign


Will the dreams Mandela had for South Africa be fulfilled?

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Most people know the story of South Africa’s miraculous transformation from an tumultuous apartheid state into Nelson Mandela’s “Rainbow Nation.” However, many are less familiar with what has happened in the years that followed since, ushered in by Mandela’s presidency in 1994.

Author Douglas Foster shines light on South Africa’s lesser known post-apartheid era in his book “After Mandela: The Struggle for Freedom in Post-Apartheid South Africa.” Foster describes how the country experienced various periods of unrest as it struggled with economic disparity, AIDS, and political turmoil. Foster further examines the enduring racial tensions in South Africa, where half the population is under twenty-five and knows Mandela only as a distant historical figure.

Most of all, Foster strives to comprehensively answer the question: what will become of the South African dream of freedom and equality articulated by Mandela when he fearlessly became the nation’s first black president?

Guest:

Douglas Foster, author of “After Mandela: The Struggle for Freedom in Post-Apartheid South Africa” (Liveright Publishing); associate professor at the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University. Formerly senior editor at the Center for Investigative Reporting and director of the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley.

Live Event

Douglas Foster will discuss and sign copies of After Mandela at Book Soup in West Hollywood tonight at 7pm.

Knotts Berry Farm’s Windseeker leaves riders hanging at 300 feet

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A view of the Windseeker operating normally.

Typically, Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park isn’t at its most frightening until Halloween, when it transforms into Knott’s Scary Farm.

But yesterday, some patrons of the amusement park got an early overdose of fear. Riders on the Windseeker attraction, a carousel that takes people around in a circle at about 300 feet in the sky, got a thrill when it malfunctioned. While a few fits and starts are common at theme parks, this was more than just a bump in the road. In fact, it took three hours before the ride started again, and patrons were stranded at the very top of the ride with their legs dangling in the air.

No one ended up getting hurt, and the ride itself is back in working order, but how often do things like this happen? What’s the protocol for preventing and fixing such a problem? How do Knott’s and other parks deal with the public fallout? Do those Windseeker riders now have lifetime passes to ride whatever they want? If they do, will they even use them? Have you ever experienced a similar situation on a ride at an amusement park? How amusing was it?

Guest:

Robert Niles, Editor, ThemeParkInsider.com

Chick-fil-A says it will no longer fund anti-gay groups

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An anti-Chick-fil-A protestor holds a si

An anti-Chick-fil-A protestor holds a sign outside a Chick-fil-A fast food restaurant, August 1, 2012 in Hollywood, California. Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

Chick-fil-A is going to stick with chicken and get out of politics. The about-face comes after the fast-food chain faced pressure from a Chicago politician trying to stop a new location opening in his city.

Alderman Proco (Joe) Moreno negotiated a change in the company’s donation policies. Chick-fil-A reportedly sent a statement to Moreno stating: “The WinShape Foundations [a non-profit funded by Chick-fil-A] is now taking a much closer look at the organizations it considers helping, and in that process will remain true to its stated philosophy of not supporting organizations with political agendas.”

WinShape had donated millions of dollars to anti-gay groups previously. In meetings, company executives said they would no longer do so. The Georgia based company caused a stir earlier this summer when its president, Dan Cathy, told “The Baptist Press” that his business was “guilty as charged” of supporting “the biblical definition of the family unit.” It sparked boycotts and boycott-backlashes.

How much pressure has the chain been under in recent weeks? Did they not receive enough support from customers with similar beliefs? What does this say about mixing business and beliefs?

Guests:

Drake Bennett, writer, Bloomberg business week

Should the US give highly-skilled immigrants a boost to the front of the line?

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2006 China Education Expo

Visitors inquire about schools of USA, UK and other countries at the 2006 China Education Expo on October 14, 2006 in Beijing, China. The fair has attracted over 450 colleges, universities, schools and institutions from about 30 countries and regions present. Chinese students have become popular student source for foreign schools which are developing overseas education market in China, according to local media. Credit: China Photos/Getty Images

A bill being heard on the House floor today aims to boost the nation’s brain trust.

HR 6429, known as “The STEM Jobs Act,” would offer 55,000 visas per year to foreign-born graduates of American universities with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and math. These highly-prized “STEM” graduates, says the bill’s author, House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), are an asset to U.S. businesses and innovation and should be prioritized when it comes to green cards, rather than taking their skills and knowledge back to their home countries.

One problem: the measure would eliminate the Diversity Visa program, which uses a lottery system to ensure that visas are spread among a wide variety of applicants from underserved countries, such as Poland, Ireland and a number of African countries. Critics of the bill object to giving STEM immigrants preference over others who may not have the advantage of an advanced education.

A competing bill, sponsored by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-California), would grant special visas to the “best and brightest” without cutting back on the number of Diversity Visas.

Should the U.S. give highly-skilled immigrants a boost to the front of the line? Or should it keep the playing field level for all education levels? How do we decide who is most welcome to our shores?

Guests:

Robert Hoffman, senior vice president for government affairs, Information Technology Industry Council

Mary Giovagnoli, Director of the Immigration Policy Center

Are Californians really bailing on the Golden State?

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Where ya headed, pardner? Credit: dherrera_96/Flickr (cc by-nc-nd)

A new study by the conservative Manhattan Institute says that Californians are leaving the state in droves, searching for cheaper living conditions and a more favorable business climate.

"In the last 20 years, California has switched from being a state that was a big in-migration magnet to one that sheds people to other states," said lead author Tom Gray.

Not so fast, say well-studied naysayers, who allege that the study is light on hard evidence. It’s true that the film and TV industry has been shooting more in states who give bigger tax breaks to production companies, but California’s slowing growth rate may be chalked up to myriad factors.

"Who wants such a high growth rate when your state is pushing 40 million already?" added demographer Dowell Myers. "California is returning to a normal level for the whole U.S., and most Californians don't want to have excess growth."

Gray said the decrease in raw growth is neither good nor bad. "It's not so much an issue of whether California is bigger," he continued. "It's if people are leaving, why they are leaving, and if that's indicating if something else is wrong."

Though population continues to increase due to foreign migration and resident births, overall growth has come down as Californians search for jobs and cheaper housing. But Gray said lowering housing costs isn't a viable solution.

"You're not going to lower prices for housing because people – that's their wealth," he said.

According to Myers, there's merit in California's expensive price tags. "Prices are high because they're attractive. We invest in human capital. Other places are low because people aren't competing to get there," he noted. "The unemployment rate in California is very high right now. That's actually causing us to lose more than we're gaining because of the cheaper prices."

To Myers, the answer lies in bolstering education quality.

"California is slipping in what it can offer to high level talent and their families, and we need to shore up our education system again, to once again make it attractive so people can recruit good workers," he said.

Are you considering leaving California’s sunshine behind? Why would you choose to stay or go?

Guest:

Tom Gray, editor, writer, communications consultant and lead author of the Manhattan Institute’s study “The Great California Exodus: A Closer Look”

Dowell Myers, demographer and professor at the Sol Price School of Public Policy at USC

President Obama addresses the U.N. General Assembly

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UN-GENERAL ASSEMBLY-US

US President Barack Obama addresses the 67th UN General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York, September 25, 2012. Credit: EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images

President Barack Obama addressed the United Nations General Assembly today, focusing mainly on the fallout of anti-American attacks in Egypt and Libya. Obama, who typically strikes an amicable tone when addressing the international body, went in a markedly different direction.

The President showed definite signs of frustration when addressing the leaders of countries, especially those in the Middle East, who were not doing everything in their power to tone down the intolerance and violence in their societies. While acknowledging that not every country in the U.N. has the same rights to free speech that the U.S. does, Obama still urged world leaders to accept the fact that information can no longer be controlled as in the days before smart phones and social media, and that attention must be paid to teaching citizens all over the globe that no form of speech justifies mindless violence.

How far should America go in exporting its idea of freedom of speech in the Middle East? That’s all well and good for Obama to say, but how exactly will other countries react to this forceful statement? How far should America go in exporting its protections of freedom of speech? And does this move by Obama go far enough in addressing GOP criticisms that he is an American apologist?

Guest:

Yousef Munayyer, Executive Director, The Palestine Center

Michael Rubin, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute; former Pentagon official; former political advisor to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad (2003-2004)

Living the teeny tiny life in San Francisco

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Smartspace

Rendering of the Smartspace Soma interior of queen room with bed shown. Credit: Smartspace

“My apartment is so small...I have to go out in the hall to change my mind!” It’s no joke -- a newly built apartment building in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood boasts pre-fab mini-units of 300 square feet.

But why stop there? SF’s Board of Supervisors is voting today on whether to allow apartments of just 220 square feet - that’s including bathroom, kitchen and closet. Why the shrinking spaces? A tech boom has led to a housing crunch and a run on rentals by new hires, desperate for city living on a budget.

Studio apartments in the area typically go for over $2,000 a month; the micro-units would rent for $1,200 to $1,700. Developers, anxious to cash in, say they can build thousands of tiny apartments in available real estate for an increasing influx of single city dwellers. But opponents of the plan cite fears of traffic congestion and strain on city services. They also worry about one unintended consequence: low-income families with few options being shoe-horned into living spaces barely double the size of a prison cell.

Americans have gotten used to “wide-open spaces,” but proponents of downsized living extoll the virtues of shedding the possessions and responsibilities associated with large homes. Would you consider living in such a small space? Could you give up your elbow room and walk-in closets? What would make it worthwhile to you - convenience, location, price?

Guests:

Patrick Kennedy, owner of Panoramic Interests, a Berkeley-based developer

Sara Shortt, Executive Director, Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco


Federal authorities crack down on local pot dispensaries

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Medical Marijuana

Jars full of medical marijuana are seen at Sunset Junction medical marijuana dispensary. Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

As part of an ongoing effort to eliminate illegal marijuana businesses in California, Federal authorities have taken a series of actions against 70 stores in the City of Los Angeles and one store known to be operating in Huntington Park. In federal court yesterday, prosecutors filed three asset forfeiture lawsuits against properties where marijuana stores are located. Authorities executed federal search warrants at three other stores while prosecutors also sent warning letters to individuals connected with at least 68 marijuana businesses. Many of the stores are located in downtown Los Angeles and in the neighborhood of Eagle Rock.

The federal actions were carried out in cooperation with local authorities. The state Supreme Court is expected to address whether local governments can ban medical marijuana clinics, but a hearing has not been set. Additionally, Los Angeles could soon face a referendum on the most recent ban approved by the city council. Council members must decide by next week whether to call a special election for the measure, repeal it themselves or put it on next year’s ballot.

What does this latest crackdown mean for marijuana dispensaries, both legal and illegal, in Los Angeles?

Guests:

Thom Mrozek, public affairs officer for the U.S. Attorney, Central District of California

Frank Stoltze, KPCC reporter

District Attorney candidate Alan Jackson talks about the status of his campaign

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Alan Jackson

Alan Jackson, Assistant Head Deputy District Attorney. Credit: Courtesy of the Jackson campaign

Alan Jackson has made a real name for himself as a prosecutor for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, and now he’s looking to capitalize on that success. He is running for District Attorney against Jackie Lacey, who serves as the chief deputy to current District Attorney Steve Cooley.

Lacey is portraying herself as the candidate with the experience to lead, but it is hard to argue with Jackson’s seventeen years spent as a prosecutor, not to mention his many accomplishments and accolades. He’s twice been named Prosecutor of the Year, and he’s represented winning sides in several high profile cases in the community. In fact, he became the first attorney in 40 years to successfully convict a celebrity of murder in L.A. when he tried the Phil Spector case.

Jackson came from humble beginnings in Texas and was raised by his single mother. He later served as a mechanic in the Air Force before graduating from the University of Texas, Austin. After that he went to Law School at Pepperdine University, and he’s been in Southern California ever since.

How is Jackson’s campaign faring in the polls? Is he making a positive impression with voters? What key issues separate him from his opponent? What would a Jackson victory mean for Los Angeles?

Highlights from the interview:

On what to overcome with an overwhelming Democratic state, despite election's nonpartisan nature:
"This is an office for public safety; it's not an office for a politician."

"When [the voters are] asked who they want to sit in the top spot in the district attorney's office, I think they overwhelmingly respond that they want a prosecutor."

"I've got support of both, a bipartisan coalition of support surrounding my campaign, including some elected officials that are Republican, some that are Democrats."

On why prosecutorial background matters versus administrative background:
"At the end of the day, we try cases. That's what the district attorney is all about ... Our work is not done in a conference room, our work is done in a court room. I have the prosecutorial skills to bring that leadership to the top of the office, to lead 1000 prosecutors."

"The real leadership, the real vision comes from a modern view of what happens inside the courtroom ... I've been tethered to the courtroom for 18 years."

On how much he'll be involved with the cases:
"I think I'd be very involved. I believe that leadership from the top means that you have to take an active interest in exactly what your DAs are doing. Obviously I'm not going into the court and trying the cases ... What we do is set tones and policies that we believe reflect the leadership of the office and the administration that's running it."

"When Steve Cooley ran in 2000, he had not spent one day in executive management. Not one day. He ran as a prosecutor. You see the job that he's done in the last 12 years and I think to a person, folks would say that he's guided this office very, very well. I bring the same skill set to the office."

On what he would change if he were elected:
"My vision comes down to basically being progressive in my view of moving forward, modernizing the district's office."

"I think we have to get control over public corruption ... When you can't trust the people who are put in the position to actually protect their constituents – there has to be a zero tolerance for that."

"I think we have to control violent crime. I had breakfast not long ago with [LAPD Chief] Charlie Beck. Charlie Beck could not have agreed more when I said, 'Chief, it seems to me that we can get control of violent crime if we control gang crime in the Los Angeles area.'"

"I want to modernize the DA's office, basically pulling the DA's office into the 21st century: high-tech crime investigation, cyber crime investigation ranging from bank fraud all the way to sexual predators using the internet. Things of that nature are proliferating in the criminal justice system. The fastest growing crime in Los Angeles ... is ID theft."

"We have to stop crime before it starts ... We're not going to prosecute or handcuff our way out of the crime problem in Los Angeles. We have to address the kids; those who can be saved should be saved."

On how the DA office approach prevention:
"We do carry the stick; our main mission is, our commission as the District Attorney office is to punish criminals, but when they can be put on probation, when they can be supervised in a more robust fashion by the courts, with our ascension, they should be. When there is a possibility to rehabilitate a juvenile, to me, that's where the rubber meets the road. We will have saved someone from getting into the adult criminal life."

"We need to continue training on gang crimes and gang enhancements. When I was in Compton, I worked in the hardcore gang division and I literally wrote the manual on how to prosecute a modern gang crime."

On what role the DA's office should play in realignment:
"I think that is probably the key issue in this election, and is going to be the key issue for the next administration: What are we going to do about realignment, what are we going to do about AB 109 and prisoner release."

"Let me disabuse the idea that the only people being affected by realignment are low level offenders. Some of the offenses that are considered low level include: possession of weapons, possession of explosives, major financial crimes ranging into literally the billions of dollars ... welfare fraud cases that can range into the tens of millions, hundreds of millions in loss to the state and to the taxpayers, counterfeiting, elder abuse, health care fraud. These are all things that are considered releasable and 'low level.'"

"We need to embrace the idea of alternative sentencing with intense supervision. It's the supervision that allows us the ability to rehabilitate those who can ... Hopefully we'll get the funding to do that, but that's what has to be done. The money has got to come from somewhere, and we as a community have to get sort of a steel spine and say we're going to pay for this."

"We also can work ... to build a central rehabilitation and support services infrastructure. That Larry, in my opinion, should have been done beforehand. Before AB 109 was passed ... We simply don't have a singular facility to send parolees when they're getting out of state prison or probationers when they're getting released early.

"We have to deeply categorize the folks that are going to be released early. We're out of room at the inn; there's no more room at the local custody facilities to put more inmates in."

On his stance against Proposition 36:
"It paints with far too broad a brushstroke ... Under the new rules, there are certain crimes that would be permanently and forever more removed from the three strikes framework, and they are important crimes, crimes like attempted murder."

"Even if you had several attempted murders going back years, and aggravated assault, and assault on a police officer with a firearm, for instance, those would be accepted out of the framework of being allowed in any circumstance to seek a third strike on a current felon that's not serious or not violent."

"I started off with a simple question: 'Does this law help or hinder my ability to keep the public safe?' This law, as it's written, hinders my ability to keep the public safe."

Guest:

Alan Jackson, candidate for Los Angeles County District Attorney and currently serving as Assistant Head Deputy for the D.A.’s office

Election 2012: Swing state polls and the GOP battle for the Senate

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Romney Takes Whirlwind Campaign Tour Of Ohio

Republican U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney arrives at a campaign rally at Westerville South High School September 26, 2012 in Westerville, Ohio. Romney continued his two-day "Romney Plan For A Stronger Middle Class" bus tour in the state of Ohio. Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Time is running out for both presidential candidates to make their case to voters before Election Day. And where are they concentrating their time, money and efforts? You guessed it, in the swing states. We’ll take a look at several polls from states such as Ohio, Florida and Virginia and see how things are shaking out for President Obama and Governor Romney.

But it’s not just about the guys at the top of the ticket. There’s also a heated battle going on for majority control of the Senate between Republicans and Democrats. With Obama’s low approval rating a few months ago, it seemed a very realistic lock for Republicans to come out on top by winning only four seats, or three if Romney won and could use Paul Ryan as a tie-breaking vote.

However, as Romney continues to falter on the national stage, it seems that Senate candidates will have to make up the lost ground on their own. Unfortunately for the GOP, some of their politicians are simply not cutting the mustard. Whether it be Todd Akin’s gaffe in Missouri allowing Claire McCaskill to regain a lead in the polls, or Elizabeth Warren’s Democratic convention speech which is propelling her ahead of Scott Brown, the Republicans could be in serious trouble.

How is the GOP addressing this apparent problem? Is there anything the Mitt Romney campaign can do to help? What would it mean for Republicans on the whole if they lose the Senate and the presidency? Karl Rove is putting out the effort to raise money for these beleaguered GOP candidates via an infamous “money bomb.” Will it work?

Guests:

Sarah Dutton, director of surveys for CBS News

Mark Barabak, national political writer, Los Angeles Times

Jonathan Collegio, Communications Director, American Crossroads, a conservative Super PAC affiliated with Karl Rove

Chris Lehane, democratic political consultant and partner in the strategic communications firm Fabiani & Lehane

Governor Brown paves the road for hands-free driving in California

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Gov. Brown Signs Legislation At Google HQ That Allows Testing Of Autonomous Vehicles

A Google self-driving car is displayed at the Google headquarters on September 25, 2012 in Mountain View, California. California Gov. Jerry Brown signed State Senate Bill 1298 that allows driverless cars to operate on public roads for testing purposes. Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Yesterday, Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation that would create safety standards for driverless cars - or “intelligent transportation” - in California.

The bill effectively legalizes autonomous driving - once the technology catches up. And it’s not far off. Tech researchers and automakers at the forefront of the movement predict that we’ll be seeing robo-cars on the road by 2015; by 2040, they say, drivers’ licenses may be obsolete.

Google already has a fleet of cars developed with Toyota that have a million miles under their collective wheels. We’ve seen the technology creeping into new vehicles little by little, from navigation systems to collision avoidance. Completely self-driven cars, experts say, are the next logical step. Proponents tout the safety advantages and increased personal autonomy for the blind, disabled or elderly. And imagine the luxury of being able to text, work or even enjoy a cocktail while being chauffeured by your Chevy.

But there are legal and societal concerns that need to be addressed before we go completely hands-free. The current legislation, critics point out, does nothing to address issues of liability or privacy. Who is responsible when two driverless cars crash? Who has access to software that tracks your speed, driving route and destination?

All that aside, are you ready to give up the wheel to your automobile? Can California drivers ever truly “leave the driving” to Google?

Guests:

Jeffrey Miller, vice president, Intelligent Transportation Society, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and associate professor of computer engineering, University of Alaska in Anchorage

Bryant Walker Smith, fellow at the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School and the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford University(CARS) whose current research focuses on the law and policy of self-driving vehicles.

Vegan goes mainstream: what’s behind the seemingly exploding interest in vegan food?

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A PETA volunteer places the lid on a ser

The vegan trend is booming in L.A. for many reasons Credit: KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images

Los Angeles is a city of foodies, but it is also a city full of people who tend to be more image and socially conscious than many American municipalities.

What better way to combine respect for the environment and a youthful visage than a change in diet? Once relegated to the dreadlock and Birkenstock crowd, restaurants that offer vegan menus are popping up all over Los Angeles. Food trends come and go, and although it might be said that vegan is the ‘new black’ the practice of maintaining a diet that completely excludes animal products is spreading like wildfire in the Southland and it shows no signs of slowing.

Beyond L.A.’s new reputation as a hotbed of the vegan movement, the lifestyle choice is also gaining attention on a wider scope, which in turn focuses more attention back on the city’s burgeoning vegan restaurant scene. Former president Bill Clinton became a vegan in 2010 after a series of serious heart issues and numerous members of Hollywood’s elite have swapped their steak for kale and quinoa.

Are you part of the growing movement of a plant-based diet? How is L.A. becoming ground zero for the vegan movement?

Guests:

Tony Yanow, owner of a trio of popular Los Angeles area establishments that all feature vegan menus

Joseph Shuldiner, director of the Institute for Domestic Technology, founder of the Altadena Farmer’s Market and author of “Pure Vegan” (Chronicle 2012)

Prop 36 could change three strikes law come November

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Supreme Court To Rule On California's Overcrowded Prisons

CHINO, CA - DECEMBER 10: Inmates at Chino State Prison walk the hallway on December 10, 2010 in Chino, California. Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

November’s ballot will feature the Three Strikes Reform Act which is a revised version of California’s Three Strikes Law. Proposition 36 would condense prison sentences for third strike offenders depending on the nature of the crime while giving felons with a single conviction of murder, rape, or child molestation a harsher punishment even if the third strike is a minor offense.

If Prop 36 passes, California could see a reduction in the number of inmates in its prisons as well as saving the state anywhere between 70 to 90 million dollars per year. Opponents of Prop 36 say it would allow thousands of potentially dangerous felons to be released early from their sentences. Statistics show 65 percent of prisoners released go back to correctional facilities within three years while half of that number return to prison within six months. Those against Prop 36 also point to the concept of judicial discretion claiming judges already have some leeway in how they administer the law. The final argument against the initiative is it will not reduce taxes and that government doesn’t spend enough on crime as it is.

WEIGH IN

With the California prison population hovering at around 180,000 inmates, could Prop 36 help or hurt our penal system? Are there any other options when it comes to our correctional facilities? Will you vote for it or against it?

Guests:

Jeffrey Robinson, lawyer, NAACP legal defense fund

Mike Reynolds, helped write the language for California’s “Three Strikes Law”; following the murder of daughter Kimber in 1992

Why are Christians so hot and bothered over hell?

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How can a loving God send people to a place of eternal torment? That is one of the primary questions addressed in the new documentary “Hellbound?,” which examines how Christian beliefs about God, the Bible, and punishment affect and shape our culture.

Different denominations hold different views about God’s will and hell, which range from annihilationism, in which some people are never ‘saved,’ to a paradigm in which everyone can eventually be absolved. Regarding contradictory beliefs, filmmaker Kevin Miller said, “a growing number of people are increasingly uncomfortable with the notion of a God who calls us to love our enemies but who will one day vanquish his enemies to hell.”

Listen in as Larry gets the lowdown on eternal damnation from the film’s director Kevin Miller. What are your burning questions about fire and brimstone?

Guests:

Kevin Miller, Writer, Director of the documentary film HELLBOUND?, which opens in Pasadena September 28

Bill Wiese, Minister and author of several books including 23 Minutes in Hell

Frank Schaeffer, Author whose most recent book is Sex, Mom, and God: How the Bible’s Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics—and How I learned to Love Women (and Jesus) Anyway (Da Capo Press)

Trailer for Hellbound?


With his campaign on the downswing, will Romney get the benefit of the bounce?

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Officials Discuss Progress On Washington Monument Repairs

Is there a media bias behind this years presidential campaign? Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

If you believe what you read, watch or hear in the news, Mitt Romney’s campaign is sinking fast. After Romney’s ill-spoken remarks at a private fundraiser were made public last week, the media were quick to declare his campaign on life support.

This week, polls show Barack Obama ahead in several key swing states. But according to political experts, what goes down must come up – and vice versa. Presidential campaigns are driven by drama, and as any “Days of Our Lives” fan knows, no plot stays in one place for long – that’s why they call it a “story arc.”

A candidate is either on the way up or on the way down. Any slight misstep by Obama at this point could lead to the next feeding frenzy by the press, resulting in a rebound for Romney. And with each candidate under the media microscope, it doesn’t take much to turn a miss into a mile. With just 41 days to go until the election, the question is, whose bounce will matter most?

In those last crucial days, what story will the media be telling? Are they biased towards one side or another, as many have complained? Who will the voters believe - and how will it affect the final outcome?

Guest:

Thomas Patterson, Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and author of books on politics and the media, including The Vanishing Voter and Out of Order

Can sleeping smarter offset not sleeping enough?

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Sleep

Not getting enough sleep? Experts suggest sleeping smarter next time Credit: CarbonNYC via Flickr / Creative Commons

Are you worried that you’re not sleeping enough? Or are you not sleeping enough because you’re worried? Regardless of causality Americans aren’t getting enough sleep; a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that nearly a third of all working adults get six hours or less of sleep per night.

Sleep deprivation can lead to a number of health problems and declines in things like productivity and sex drive and an increase in accidents, memory loss and weight gain. Sleep experts say there is only one cure: we need to sleep more, and sleep smarter. Remedies for getting more rest include things like nabbing 24 minute naps at work and sleeping with the shades open so you can wake up to natural light.

Other solutions to sleeping better suggest shutting down electronic devices at bedtime. Anything from a pulsing sleep light on your laptop to an e-mail notification on your cell phone on your nightstand can disrupt sleep patterns and lead to missing precious minutes of slumber.

How could you change your habits to allow for more and better sleep? What does a lack of sleep mean in your life?

Guest:

David K. Randall, senior reporter, Reuters; author of Dreamland: Adventures in the strange science of sleep

‘Carmageddon 2’ is coming: Will it be hype or hysterics?

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Carmageddon/KPCC

Will Carmageddon 2 be more like the Godfather II or Caddyshack 2? Credit: Grant Slater

On a July weekend in 2011, the biggest story in Los Angeles was the closing of a freeway. Caltrans, the state agency responsible for California’s traffic infrastructure, had plans to rebuild a section of the 405 near the Sepulveda Pass on L.A.’s west side. But the 405 is one of the busiest freeways in the world – over 300,000 cars travel on the stretch of the 405 that connects the L.A. Basin with the San Fernando Valley each day.

‘Carmageddon’ was the name that stuck and Angelenos were sternly warned to stay away. After all the hype, work concluded early and the freeway was opened hours early on Sunday afternoon. But Hollywood loves a sequel, and this weekend Caltrans is at it again.

RELATED: Click here to see all of our coverage on Carmageddon 2

‘Carmageddon 2’ is scheduled to close the stretch of the 405 that connects the 10 and 101 freeways between roughly midnight on Friday night and 6 a.m. Monday morning to allow for the razing of what remains of the Mulholland Drive Bridge. Officials are once again warning Angelenos to avoid the area and cautioning about a traffic boondoggle.

"Stay out of the 5405 corridor, stay out of the I-10, the 101 freeways that feed into the 405 corridor. It's just not worth the risk of getting stuck in traffic ... that can cost you a couple hours or more," L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky told AirTalk.

He expects that, with 30 percent more work due to at least one additional column that needs to be knocked down compared to last year, construction crews will be pressed to finish on time.

But according to Yaroslavsky, "failure is not an option. We've got to be done by dawn Monday morning or we're going to have a mess on our hands."

The county supervisor has been encouraging people to bolster local businesses by eating and shopping around their own neighborhoods.

Last year, "some businesses did better and some businesses got clobbered," he said, recalling a flyover west L.A. beaches during construction. "The beach businesses along the pacific coast highway just got creamed ... it looked like a scene from 'The Beach.' There was nobody there."

Some Angelenos left their cars to dine locally – on the 405. Yaroslavsky said troublemakers won't be as lucky this time.

"The California Highway Patrol made it abundantly clear that nobody's going to be allowed to trespass onto the freeway. it's dangerous for them, and it's dangerous for construction workers, and they made it clear they wll arrest anyone who comes onto the freeway," he said.

WEIGH IN:

So will Carmageddon 2 be a worthy sequel like Godfather: Part II or a more dubious follow up like Blues Brothers 2000? How are you preparing for another closing of L.A.’s most trafficked freeway?

Guest:

Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles County Supervisor representing the Third District

Why we are so obsessed with celebrities: Ty Burr ‘on movie stardom and modern fame’

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Our society has celebrated certain individuals more than others since its inception.

We are obsessed and fixated with everything about celebrities and as film critic Ty Burr points out in his new book “Gods Like Us: On Movie Stardom and Modern Fame,” this obsession intensified with the development of movies and movie stars in the early twentieth century. Even the practice of comparing human beings to celestial sources of light and energy by calling them “stars” is symbolic of our profound fascination.

In his book, Burr examines this obsession by tracing the origin and meaning of modern fame from 1908’s Biograph Girl, Florence Lawrence, all the way to the likes of Kim Kardashian. The author uses real life examples of celebrities as case studies to demonstrate our relationship with fame and fame culture and explain why we elevate stars to a god-like status.

But, why do some stars continue to shine brightly, while others fade over time? And what do the chosen celebrities in any society signify about the values held by the masses who adore and idolize them? Listen in as Larry takes a look at the fame game with film critic and author Ty Burr.

Guest:

Ty Burr, film critic at The Boston Globe since 2002 and author of “Gods Like Us: On Movie Stardom and Modern Fame” (Pantheon 2012)

KPCC President Bill Davis to weigh in on recent program changes

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Bill Davis

KPCC President Bill Davis Credit:

We’ve come a long way since the early days, broadcasting local news and music from the basement of Pasadena City College, to our emergence as a leader in Southland broadcast journalism.

KPCC has recently made ambitious strides to expand its award-winning reporting and editorial staff, embrace new media opportunities, engage tomorrow’s multi-platform audiences and find even more ways to serve our community.

As we know you've noticed, recent changes to the programming lineup and the addition of a new host or two have given KPCC a bit of a makeover.

These changes include the cancellation of Patt Morrison's show after six years, though she remains on staff as a special correspondent. Additionally, Madeleine Brand, co-host of our morning show Brand & Martinez and formerly of The Madeleine Brand Show, chose to resign just last Friday.

We understand that these are two huge changes that directly impact our listeners and we've been reading every single one of the comments you've left on our website and our social media channels.

KPCC President Bill Davis joins Larry Mantle on AirTalk Friday from 11:40 a.m.-12 p.m. to discuss the changes and what they mean for the future of KPCC and you, our valued listener.

We also want to hear from you. Please leave your questions in the comments below. Our producers will also be screening calls and feeding them to Larry and Mr. Davis in studio live during the show. You can also leave questions on our Facebook page.

Thank you for all your continued support, we will get to as many of your questions as possible during this special segment.

WEIGH IN

What’s behind the decisions to cancel some programs and expand others? Why the shifts in schedules and on-air personalities? What do you like about the new changes? What do you think should have been done differently? What would you like to see more of?

Guest:

Bill Davis, President and CEO of Southern California Public Radio

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