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In 2003 Life & Times left the studio and went into the field, driving from place to place covering issues and people that make southern California interesting. We look back at our best stories, the most fascinating places, and the most remarkable people we've had the privilege of meeting. And let me tell you, southern California is full of smart, creative, dedicated and wacky folks!
Tonight we visit with Warren Olney and Jess Marlow, who together with Val Zavala took Life & Times into a news format. What are Warren and Jess up to today? And what were their favorite interviews? We look back at moments in the KCET studio some great, some not so great, some pretty crazy.
We begin our look back at 16 years of Life & Times. Tonight we talk with Hugh Hewitt, Patt Morrison, Kerman Maddox and Ruben Martinez who were the first hosts of Life & Times when it started in 1992. What are they doing now? What were their favorite moments? It's a fun look back at interviews and lively debates about L.A. politics in the '90s.
THE BUSINESS OF BEING SANTA
Scores of Santas have learned how to "Ho Ho Ho," chat with kids and avoid lawsuits. In this litigious age, being Santa can be a liability. Hena Cuevas goes to a Santa Claus class held early in the season for an inside look at Santa "clauses."
HOW ONE MAN CHANGED CHRISTMAS
He was a good-looking, outgoing 22-year-old living in Boyle Heights in the 1930s. Then he was struck down by polio. What does this have to do Christmas? Just watch to see how George Skinner said thanks and started a national tradition.
CLASSICS REDUX
This theater group would make the great William Shakespeare sit up in his grave or die of laughter. Paul Vercammen takes us to a theater where Jack Frost meets Michael Jackson in "Jackson Frost", and the Doobie Brothers meet the Bard in "Much Adoobie Brothers About Nothing."
ANNUAL LIGHT SHOW
When it comes to holiday lights, who can do a better job than the company that keeps our lights on all year? For 12 years the L.A.D.W.P. has put on the Holiday Light Festival, drawing tens of thousands of visitors. We get a look with Kim Hughes from the L.A.D.W.P. (Lights up through Dec. 30th)
LAUNCHING SATELITTES FROM THE SEA
What can you do with an old oil platform? A unique Long Beach company has taken a platform and converted it into a launching pad for commercial satellites. But earlier this year one launch became a fiery disaster. Many said Sea Launch would be out of business. But as Roger Cooper tells us, Sea Launch is ready to try again.
ROAD TO 9-11
Osama Bin Laden is a household name. But his "evil mentor" is an Egyptian doctor named Ayman al Zawahiri. Zawahiri is one of four people that writer and reporter Lawrence Wright profiles in his Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Looming Tower: al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11.
A MUSICAL EVOLUTION
Is it flamenco? Jazz? Rock? Blues? Classical? The music of master guitarist Luis Villegas is a fusion of all those styles and the result of an interesting musical evolution. Val Zavala meets Luis Villegas and his band, a master guitarist who grew up listening to traditional Mexican ranchero music. (You can hear him at luisvillegas.com)
THE MAYOR GETS HIS SCHOOLS
Parents and teachers from six low performing schools have cast their children's futures with L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa. They voted to be governed by a non-profit organization under the Mayor's leadership. But the plan is still vague. Will he be able to do what L.A. Unified has not? Sam Louie visits a school that is hoping change is on the way.
FAST FOOD BAN IN SOUTH L.A.?
Will banning additional fast food restaurants in south L.A. improve the health of residents, or just limit choices? The L.A. City Council will vote on that proposal early next year. In the meantime, our kitchen debate features public health advocate Aurora Flores who defends the ban, and Onkar Ghate with the Ayn Rand Institute who gives it a thumbs down. Our conversation is moderated by David Lehrer of CommUnity Advocates.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle of KPCC radio and his film critics tell us about Charlie Wilson's War, Sweeney Todd, The Great Debaters, There Will Be Blood.
NUCLEAR BIOMEDICAL WASTE BURIED IN BRENTWOOD
In the '50s and '60s biomedical waste including hypodermic needles and the cremated remains of radiated lab animals was buried on Veteran Administration land in Brentwood. That land is now being used as a dog park and private school athletic field. Is it still dangerous? That's the question Hena Cuevas set out to answer.
$50,000 TO ANY REAL PSYCHIC
The Center for Inquiry is offering $50,000 to any psychic who can actually do what he or she claims. The Center is dedicated to debunking paranormal claims and bringing rational thinking to a world that is easily fooled. Val Zavala visits the Hollywood-based organization to see how they put psychics to the test.
GREAT PUBLIC ART UNDERGROUND
Some of southern California's best public art is underground. But to see it you'll have to get out of your car and hop on the subway. That's what Vicki Curry did to see the creative side of Union Station, Civic Center and Metro Center. (For free MTA art tours check out www.metro.net/art)
SAVING LITTLE SAIGON
Orange County's "Little Saigon" has the highest concentration of Vietnamese-Americans in the U.S. But keeping it that way is a challenge. A younger generation has been moving to other areas. Will lofts and high end shops draw them back home? Orange County reporter Roger Cooper looks at efforts to save "Little Saigon."
RACE AND THE BAR EXAM
Blacks are six times less likely to pass the bar exam as whites. Some say it's due to the "mis-match" theory. Now some researchers want the California Bar to release data on bar exam passage rates. Bar officials have said no. A lively debate ensues around our kitchen table between Professor Richard Sander of ULCA and Holly Fujie of the State Bar Board of Governors, moderated by Joe Hicks of CommUnity Advocates.
STUNNING CHINESE GARDEN AT THE HUNTINGTON
It's destined to become a must-see attraction in southern California the largest Chinese garden outside of China. This meticulously constructed garden has been ten years in the making. Val Zavala gets a preview of the "Garden of Flowing Fragrance" at the Huntington were poetry is infused with nature. (Opens to the public on February 23, 2008)
HOSPITAL EXPANSION BATTLE
Over the past five years 11 hospitals have closed in L.A. County. Now one is bucking the trend with plans to expand. So what's holding things up? Sam Louie goes to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the northeast San Fernando Valley to find out.
GREEN MACHINES
How do new cars stack up when it comes to lower emissions? With global warming on the near horizon are car makers doing their part, or making things worse? Hena Cuevas visited the L.A. Auto Show earlier this month to get a look at some green machines.
STAINED GLASS SPECTACLE
Twenty-eight stunning stained glass windows at a church in Koreatown are unusual. They convey religious themes, as you would expect, but also a bit of local history and 20th century life. Vicki Curry visits St. James of the City Episcopal Church for a look at these gorgeous windows that were 75 years in the making.
A DRIVING FORCE
She uses her own money to go the extra mile for underprivileged kids, putting them on the road to college -- literally. Is she a counselor? A teacher? A recruiter? None of the above, as Toni Guinyard found out after meeting the remarkable Tanya Walters.
BROKAW RELIVES THE '60s
Former NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw looks back at the '60s, the decade that changed America and is still being debated today. He looks at the '60s through the experiences of scores of Americans, everyone from Gloria Steinem to Karl Rove. Val Zavala talks with Brokaw about the parallels between what the country was going through then and now.
THE BIRTH OF COOL
Those kidney-shaped coffee tables your parents loved are popular again. Mid-century modernism took off in southern California, launched in part by local designers. A new exhibition at the Orange County Museum of Art explores "Birth of the Cool" in all its fun facets. Vicki Curry gets a tour from the exhibition's curator. (Exhibit up through January 6, 2008)
MORTGAGE MELTDOWN'S CONSEQUENCES
Foreclosures affect communities in surprising ways. They can create public health hazards. How does this happen? Jeffrey Kaye goes to Hemet in the Inland Empire, a town hit hard by the subprime crisis. There he sees some unexpected consequences that impact more than homeowners.
CHILDREN LEFT BEHIND AT L.A. SCHOOLS
Congress passed the "No Child Left Behind" law requiring every school in the country to meet certain education standards. Will California schools make the grade? About 100 school districts, including LAUSD, have reason to worry. Val Zavala talks with the state schools chief, Jack O'Connell, about what the federal standards mean for local schools.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and his film critics give us their takes on I Am Legend, The Kite Runner and Youth Without Youth.
WAITING FOR JUSTICE: EXECUTIONS ON HOLD
Her parents were stabbed to death, their throats slashed by a neighbor who came demanding money. That was 12 years ago. Today the convicted murderer is still sitting on death row. California has the longest waiting period for executions than any other state. Now some attorneys are proposing a ballot initiative to speed things up. But will it make a difference? Sam Louie reports.
PRESSING FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Our kitchen table debaters discuss divisions within the local Jewish community over the possible "sharing" of Jerusalem. As the Middle East talks resume, does a willingness to compromise weaken one's position? David Lehrer of CommUnity Advocates mixes it up with Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller and columnist David Suissa.
THE STORY BEHIND THE CHRISTMAS SONG
The amazing popularity of The Christmas Song ("Chestnuts roasting on an open fire... ") is not only because of Nat King Cole's velvet voice. It was written by Mel Torme and Robert Wells. Vicki Curry gets the charming story behind this musical phenomenon from Daisy Torme, daughter of the beloved singer.
LETHAL PLASTICS - VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE
Our disposal of everything plastic is killing sea birds and polluting our oceans. Scientists have found birds dead from starvation but with stomachs filled with plastic toys, bottle caps and other intact items. And tiny bits of plastic floating in the ocean mix with plankton for a toxic blend. Toni Guinyard takes a closer look at how plastics can be fatal.
DISASTER CAPITALISM
Companies like Blackwater and Halliburton are finding that war, tsunamis and hurricanes can be excellent for business. Private firms are now providing disaster relief faster than government can but at a price. And countries in emergency mode are passing pro-business laws and transferring valuable public assets into private hands. Val Zavala talks with Naomi Klein, author of Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism about this disturbing trend.
A CHRISTMAS TRADITION: THE MIRACLE OF THE VIRGIN OF GUADALUPE
For the 7th consecutive year the beautiful story of the appearance of the Virgin Mother to a Mexican peasant is told with spectacle, music, stunning costumes and a top notch cast. The year is 1531 when the Virgin appears to Juan Diego who struggles to convince church officials the apparitions are true. Val Zavala talks with lead actor Sal Lopez, and director Jose Luis Valenzuela. (Performances at the New Latino Theater Company thru Dec. 22. Info at thenewlatcstore.com)
30,000 WORDS A DAY
Every parent wants to give their child a leg up in life. And experts say vocabulary in the early years is crucial. Now there's a device that records how verbal your child's daily experience is. Does it really give a toddlers and intellectual boost? As Roger Cooper tells us, some parents aren't waiting for an answer.
THE MEXICAN MELTING POT
Even before Mexicans came to the U.S. and began assimilating, they were a blend of European and Indian blood. Writer and historian Gregory Rodriguez explores the roots of Mexican identity in Mongrels, Bastards, Orphans and Vagabonds: Mexican Immigration and the Future of Race in America.
PAINTER PATSSI VALDEZ
Her work is rich with color and movement, capturing the essence of Mexican-American homelife as she sees it. Dan Guerrero goes to the studio of this acclaimed artist to see her latest work and discover her surprising past.
REHAB WORTH THE MONEY?
The saying goes: "You get what you pay for." But is that true when it comes to drug rehabilitation programs? L.A. is home to some of the world's most luxurious and expensive rehab centers. But does paying as much as $65,000 to detox increase your chances of staying clean and sober? Sam Louie found both happy and unhappy clients.
IS THAT PRODUCT REALLY ECO-FRIENDLY?
More corporations and manufacturers are climing aboard the "green" bandwagon. But can you trust what they say about their own products? Enter "Green Seal", a non-profit independent organization that evaluates products, giving the best their "green seal" of approval. Val Zavala talks with Arthur Weissman, President of Green Seal. (info at greenseal.org)
L.A.'S IMAGE MAKER
He defined architectural photography and made L.A.'s modern homes famous the world over. At age 87 Julius Shulman is still taking pictures and has two exhibits showing his recent and classic work. Vicki Curry talks with Shulman about his illustrious career.
A NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSFORMED
Meet a remarkable group of residents in a Latino neighborhood who got fed up with gangs, pollution and illegal businesses in their neighborhood. When others would've moved, they learned how to work the levers of power that set their community on a path toward major change. Hena Cuevas has the story from the Florence -Firestone area of Los Angeles.
DO JOBS STOP GANGS?
Cities have invested millions of dollars in anti-gang programs. Many of them focus on employment and job training. But does "giving a thug a job" stop gang violence? L.A. City Councilman Jack Weiss, Paul White who runs a high school for troubled kids and Joe Hicks of CommUnity Advocates gather 'round our kitchen table for a lively debate.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle of KPCC and his movie critics review The Golden Compass, Juno, and Atonement.
FIGHTING A WAR REMOTELY
It's hard to believe, but "soldiers" sitting in a control room in Riverside can protect our troops thousands of miles away in Iraq. It's possible through remote-controlled military drones. Roger Cooper takes a closer look at these unmanned flying gadgets that are being used in more than war zones.
FORGOTTEN MURDERS
She's a crime reporter for the LA. Times who realized that too many of the 1000+ murders each year go completely unreported. So she took it upon herself to commemorate ther victims on a blog. Vicki Curry talks with Jill Leovy who says the typical murder is very different from the one that makes headlines.
CLIMB ABOARD NOAH'S ARK
This amazing walk-through rendition of Noah's Ark is opening soon at the Skirball Cultural Center. Children will be enthralled as they explore, climb and discover what it takes to survive in an ark, not unlike our diverse and challenging world. Val Zavala gets a tour of this marvelous menagerie from Skirball CEO, Uri Hersher. (Info at skirball.org)
ULTIMATE LIGHT SHOW
When it comes to Christmas lights, who could do a better job in southern California than the company that keeps our lights on all year? For over ten years the L.A.D.W.P. has put on the Holiday Light Festival. And each year it draws tens of thousands of visitors. We get a look with tour guide Kim Hughes from the L.A.D.W.P. (Lights up through Dec. 30th)
HIRE A VET
Finding a job is a challenge for anyone, but try convincing someone to hire you if you went to war straight out of high school. Some 12-thousand veterans enter California's job market every year. Toni Guinyard catches up with some Iraq War vets at a job fair, and others who are taking a more unconventional route to employment.
MEXICAN MAFIA INFLUENCE SPREADING
One of the most powerful gangs in the country is not on the streets of Los Angeles. It's in our prisons. Despite being behind bars the Mexican Mafia is responsible for hundreds of gang killings each year. Now a new book looks at how the Mexican Mafia is corrupting gang prevention programs and even some local politicians. Saul Gonzalez talked with author Tony Rafael, a Los Angeles writer who has spent ten years researching gangs.
THE PRESIDENT'S PILOT
He flew the President at one of the most crucial moments in U.S. history the day the only American President ever to resign left the White House for the last time. Richard Nixon's pilot has also been instrumental in preserving that history. Orange County Correspondent Roger Cooper takes us onboard the Presidential chopper which is now on display at the Nixon Library.
CIVIL WAR OVER MARIJUANA
The Feds are taking machetes to marijuana gardens growing in U.S. forests. At the same time local officials are granting permission to dispensaries to give out marijuana as medicine. KCET's Jeffrey Kaye takes a look at the conflicts over pot that started years ago when Californians approved the medical marijuana law.
TOO FEW STUDENTS?
For years we've been hearing about overcrowded classrooms. Now a different trend is emerging declining enrollments. In fact, half the districts in California are facing a drop in the number of students. That presents some serious new problems. What's causing the decline? Val Zavala gets answers from Mary Boger, a member of the Glendale school board.
LEATHER IS HIS CANVAS
For decades he's been carving and decorating saddles, belts, cowboy hats and more. Each one with the care and patience of a master craftsman. Hena Cuevas meets the unforgettable Al Shelton, now in his 80s he thinks.
AVOCADO FARM FIRES
The wildfires may give a boost to home construction. But agriculture will be feeling the pain for years to come. Avocado growers were hit especially hard. Hena Cuevas goes to northern San Diego county where the $100 million dollars avocado industry is concentrated.
TOO FEW ANTIBIOTICS
Part of the war against drug-resistant infections is the development of new antibiotics. But over the past several years there has been a decline in the number of antibiotics drug companies are producing. Why? It has to do with profits. Toni Guinyard talks with Dr. John Edwards, head of infectious medicine at Harbor UCLA Medical Center.
MUSICAL CROSSCURRENTS: LUIS VILLEGAS
At the intersection of jazz, Latin music, flamenco and rock you'll find the Luis Villegas Band. This remarkable guitarist from East L.A. has gone through an evolution starting with a youth spent playing heavy metal. Now he's one of the few Latino musicians popular on smooth jazz stations. Val Zavala talks with Luis about his musical journey.
SEX WORKERS IN TIJUANA
The number of people in Tijuana with AIDS is rising and many sex workers are among them. In the final report in our series on AIDS in Tijuana, James Hill takes a closer look at how women end up in this high risk profession.
THE TAX MAN COMETH
It's that time of year again. Property taxes are due Dec.10th. Will the decline in home values impact public coffers? And what is all that real estate worth anyway? Val Zavala gets some answers from L.A. County's top tax man, Rick Auerbach.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and his film critics size up The Savages, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Sex and Breakfast and Badland.
AIDS ALONG THE BORDER
HIV rates are lower in Mexico than in the U.S. But there is one exception. Tijuana is showing a disturbing increase in AIDS cases. Why is the risk of AIDS higher along the border? We find out in the 2nd part of our series from James Hill, reporter/professor at Cal State Northridge's Department of Journalism.
MORE AIR POWER
Why is a huge air bomber carrying cargo instead of dropping water on fires? Other technology like night vision goggles and GPS could also help. Why isn't it available to firefighters? Hena Cuevas talks to the head of a non-profit group trying to bridge the bureaucratic gap between firefighting tools and the front lines.
A DAY AT THE OPERA FOR TEENAGERS
It's a daring notion. Bring 3000 middle and high school students into the down music center and open the curtain on "Tosca." Can this iPod generation really appreciate Puccini? Val Zavala goes along to see what happens when teens meet Tosca. You may be surprised!
NEW HABITAT FOR GORILLA FAMILY
Imagine a $19-million dollar home renovation with a lushly landscaped 3/4 acre spread, spacious accommodations for six, a sunny yard, garden retreat and even a waterfall. We get a peek at the new gorilla reserve at the L.A. Zoo.
INSIDE A TIJUANA AIDS HOSPICE
Tijuana is plagued by crime and poverty an now an increase in AIDS. With Worlds AIDS Day this Saturday, we take you inside an AIDS hospice in Tijuana. It's the first of a three-part series from reporter and professor James Hill from California State University's journalism department.
BRACERO HISTORY CAPTURED
Braceros were Mexican laborers recruited by the U.S. to work in the fields during World War II. Now the National Archives has launched a project to capture first-person stories from workers before they are lost forever.
VIDEO ARTIST'S INSPIRATION
The stunning work of video artist Bill Viola is inspired by 15th century paintings. We look at why he chooses to render his masterpieces in super slow motion.
GOING OVERSEAS FOR MEDICAL CARE
A woman from Culver City flew to Thailand for surgery and it wasn't cosmetic surgery. The procedure cost her about half of what it would have in the U.S. But how did she know if the doctors could be trusted? Hena Cuevas looks at a growing trend Americans getting less costly medical care overseas.
ELIMINATE TAX ON CORPORATIONS?!
That advice comes from would you believe it one of America's foremost liberals, Robert Reich. The former Secretary of Labor and now an economics professor at Berkeley. Reich says if we want to clean up corporate culture, hating Wal-Mart won't work. So what will? Val Zavala continues her conversation with Reich about his new book Supercapitalism.
NOT YOUR TYPICAL HOME REPAIRS
It's been over 13 years since the Northridge quake and repairs are finally finished on an Encino home. Why did it take so long? Vicki Curry takes us to Los Encinos Adobe for a look at this a historic site and how the quake may have been a blessing in disguise.
YOUNG, HOMELESS, GAY AND ON METH
It's a dangerous combination gay homeless youth who are tempted to try highly-addictive crystal meth. Why do they do it? And how can they stop? Hena Cuevas talks to a young man who got hooked, and counselors who say meth helps them survive on the streets.
FROM THE PIPELINE TO THE PUMP
She has followed the flow of oil from Nigeria to the gas station looking for answers to all your pressing oil questions. Who controls the price of gasoline? Are consumer getting gouged? And why do they always list the price in tenths of a cent? Saul Gonzalez talks to Lisa Margonelli, the intrepid author of Oil on the Brain.
NORWALK GIRL MAKES IT BIG IN ART
Her sculptures are unforgettable creations, wires turned and twisted by hand. Vicki Curry gives us a look at the innovative artistry of Ruth Asawa.
WHEN AFFLUENCE ISN'T ENOUGH
He was earning more than half a million a year as a successful Hollywood producer. Why would he want to turn his back on the good life to stare poverty in the face? Hena Cuevas profiles Gerard Straub who travels to the world's poorest countries with a camera that doesn't blink.
FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE
She was living the American dream, a beautiful family and a comfortable life in Beverly Hills. But nothing prepared Brenda Freiberg for the loss of not one, but two sons to AIDS. Her journey took her half way around the world, where she works to relieve the pain of this relentless epidemic.
UNUSUAL DOCTORS' ROUNDS
A remarkable group of health professionals makes "house calls" to those without homes. Hena Cuevas went along to see how they administer health care on skid row.
PASADENAS RACIAL TENSIONS
Pasadena has great architecture, universities, museums, and a vibrant downtown. But it also has growing tensions between blacks and browns. The tension has surfaced in a series of attacks on Latino men. What's behind the attacks? And how is Pasadena responding? Sam Louie has our story.
ROBERT REICH ON CORPORATIONS
Corporations are not people. That's the myth that economist and writer Robert Reich would like all Americans to understand. Corporations, he says, are not human beings. So we cant expect them to be kind, generous or ethical. Val Zavala talks with Robert Reich about his new book Supercapitalism.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
We're on Wednesday this week to give you the jump on the holiday weekend releases. This week our critics look at August Rush, I'm Not There, and Margo at the Wedding.
HOSPITAL EXPANSION BATTLE
Over the past five years 11 hospitals have closed in L.A. County. Now one is bucking the trend with plans to expand. So what's holding things up? Sam Louie goes to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the northeast San Fernando Valley to find out.
GREEN MACHINES
How do new cars stack up when it comes to lower emissions? With global warming on the near horizon are car makers doing their part, or making things worse? Hena Cuevas visits the L.A. Auto Show to get a look at some green machines.
STAINED GLASS SPECTACLE
It's finally finished after 75 years. The last of 28 stained glass windows at St. James in the City Episcopal Church in Koreatown. Vicki Curry visits St. James for a look at the stunning results and city history reflected in these beautiful windows.
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS IN CHILDREN
Post traumatic stress disorder is usually associated with soldiers in a war zone. But now researchers are finding it in a very different population school children. Many have witnessed accidents, domestic violence, even murders. So how do we treat them? As Toni Guinyard tells us PTSD is very different when it impacts children.
SOUTH GATE CORRUPTION
He could win the prize for the most corrupt politician in modern times in the L.A. area. But youve probably never heard his name. He is Albert Robles. He's now behind bars, but not after nearly bankrupting the small town of South Gate. Val Zavala talks with author Sam Quinones who tells the story of brazen corruption, one of many in his new book Antonio's Gun and Delfino's Dream.
GO RIGHT TO THE SOURCE
It was one of the most popular shows on television in the early 1960s, and it's gained legions of new fans on cable. It's about a horse who can talk. And over the years Mr. Ed kept Americans entertained and wondering, "How did they get that horse to move his lips?!" Val Zavala got some answers straight from Wilbur's mouth.
SAVE OUR H2O
Long Beach is already taking drastic measures and other cities across Southern California may soon follow suit. Experts say we're headed into a drought and now is the time to enforce strict water saving rules. But it's not just the lack of rain that's producing a water crisis Orange County reporter Roger Cooper found out it also involves a tiny fish.
THE PROMISE OF SIGHT REGAINED
Life was going just fine for Terry Byland. He had a good job, nice family, a good middle class life. And then got word that within a matter of years he would be completely blind. Life as he knew it was over. But then a new technology came along, one that he is helping to advance. It gives him back some of his sight and offers a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Val Zavala has his story.
3-D REVOLUTION
Hollywood is making another attempt at 3-D. You may remember the first time moviegoers would go into a theater and put on those wacky glasses. Well now filmmakers are trying out a whole new technology. Hena Cuevas takes us to a company on the cutting edge of 3-D.
30,000 WORDS A DAY
Every parent wants to give their child a leg up in life. And experts say word acquisition in the early years is crucial. Now there's a device that records how verbal your child's daily experience is. Does it really give a toddlers and intellectual boost? As Roger Cooper tells us, some parents aren't waiting for an answer.
THE MEXICAN MELTING POT
Even before Mexicans came to the U.S. and began assimilating, they were a blend of European and Indian blood. Writer and historian Gregory Rodriguez explores the roots of Mexican identity in Mongrels, Bastards, Orphans and Vagabonds: Mexican Immigration and the Future of Race in America.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle of KPCC and his film critics give us their advice on what to see at the theaters this weekend.
FRESH 'N EASY'S PROMISE FULFILLED?
Ten new "Fresh and Easy" stores are opening this month. The word was the British grocery company would put stores in poor neighborhoods that sorely need quality produce. But so far only two out of ten stores are are in low-income communities, and none are in south L.A. Toni Guinyard takes a closer look at this new grocery chain.
BROKAW ON THE '60s
Former NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw looks back at the '60s, the decade that changed America and is still debated today. He does it through the experiences of scores of Americans, everyone from Gloria Steinem to Karl Rove. Val Zavala talks with Brokaw about the parallels between what the country was going through then and now.
THE BIRTH OF COOL
Those kidney-shaped coffee tables your parents loved are popular again. Mid-century modernism took off in southern California, launched in part by local designers. A new exhibition at the Orange County Museum of Art explores "Birth of the Cool" in all its fun facets. Vicki Curry gets a tour from the exhibition's curator.
O.C. SHERIFF's DRAMATIC FALL
He served for three decades in O.C. law enforcement and was celebrated as a rising star. Now O.C. Sheriff Mike Carona is facing corruption charges that could put him behind bars. Roger Cooper looks at the events that have gripped Orange County ever since federal indictments against their top cop were handed down earlier this month.
HARBOR KING HOSPITAL FUTURE
This week the LA County Supervisors will narrow down the list of health care companies who are interested in running the troubled King Harbor (formerly King Drew) Medical Center. The hospital was dubbed "killer King" and shut down by federal inspectors. But avoiding future mistakes mean understanding what went wrong. Our kitchen table conversation includes Larry Aubry long-time Watts resident and activist, commentator Joe Hicks and David Lehrer of Community Advocates.
PAINTER PATSSI VALDEZ
Her work is rich with color and movement, capturing the essence of Mexican-American homelife as she sees it. Dan Guerrero goes to the studio of this acclaimed artist to see her latest work and discover her surprising past.
RIPPLE EFFECT FROM THE HOUSING SLUMP
The real estate slump is putting the brakes on more than just houses in Orange County. As O.C. Reporter Roger Cooper explains the slow down could impact O.C.'s great park and public coffers as well.
NOBEL LAUREATE'S ADVICE FOR GETTING AHEAD
In 1962 James Watson shared the Nobel Prize for figuring out the structure of DNA. Now at age 79 this outspoken scientist has some advice on how to get ahead whether you're a student or a university president. Val Zavala talks with Watson about his new book, Avoid Boring People.
PONCHO SANCHEZ
He's a legend of Latin Jazz but this Grammy-winning conga drummer is much more than a percussionist. Val Zavala got a chance to talk with Sanchez ... and more importantly, to listen to him play!
MANDARIN TEACHERS
One in five Chinese citizens is learning English, getting ready for the global economy. But too few Americans speak Chinese. Now a few southern California public schools are getting students interested in Mandarin. Where do they start? With some native speaker from abroad. Sam Louie reports.
KEN BURNS ON "THE WAR"
Veterans day is Monday and this weekend KCET present a marathon broadcast of The War. Val Zavala sits down with Ken Burns to learn how he got into filmmaking and what challenges he faced when tackling a subject as large as World War II.
LAUNCHING YOUNG SCIENTISTS
American students rank 8th among 35 industrial countries when it comes to science literacy. It's especially low among minority youth. Enter Hal Walker whose acumen played an important role on the first trip to the moon. As Toni Guinyard discovered he and his wife are tackling our science literacy problem one student at a time.
BAD RAPS FOR SHARKS
Four humans died from shark attacks worldwide in 2005. A hundred million sharks are killed by humans each year. One who escaped such a fate is now the latest resident at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. This husky, 45-pounder is the only bull shark on the U.S. West Coast. But don't be fooled by the name. This "bull" is a female.
LAUNCHING SATELLITES FROM SEA
A Long Beach company has found a new used for an old oil platform – a launch pad for commercial satellites. But can an upcoming launch redeem Sea Launch from an earlier fiery disaster. Roger Cooper takes a look at his fascinating and expensive enterprise.
ROAD TO 9-11
The name Osama Bin Laden is a household name in America. But most Americans have not heard of a man named Ayman al Zawahiri. He is the Egyptian doctor described as Osamas evil mentor. Val Zavala talks with Pulitzer Prize winner author, Lawrence Wright, author of The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9-11.
JULIUS SHULMAN L.A.'s IMAGE MAKER
He defined architectural photography and made L.A. modern homes famous the world over. At age 97 Julius Shulman is still taking pictures and has two exhibits showing his recent and classic work. Vicki Curry talks with Shulman about his illustrious career.
REHAB WORTH THE MONEY?
The saying goes: "You get what you pay for." But is that true when it comes to drug rehabilitation programs? L.A. is home to some of the world's most luxurious and expensive rehab centers. But does paying as much as $65,000 to detox increase your chances of ending up clean and sober? Sam Louie found both happy and unhappy clients.
COMPUTER RECYCLING
Before you go out and buy your kids a new computer, how about getting rid of the old one the green way. Only about 11% of all obsolete computers are recycled. Val Zavala visits a computer recycling business that will be glad to take your old e-waste. (Saturday, Nov 10th SoCal recyclers is holding a pre-holiday electronics recycling event at Manhattan Beach. Visit socalrecyclers.com for info.)
JULIUS SHULMAN L.A.'s IMAGE MAKER
He defined architectural photography and made L.A. modern homes famous the world over. At age 97 Julius Shulman is still taking pictures and has two exhibits showing his recent and classic work. Vicki Curry talks with Shulman about his illustrious career.
DRIVING FORCE
How far would you be willing to go to inspire students? A group of school bus drivers is going the extra mile to motivate students. Nearly two dozen trips and thousands of miles later, Toni Guinyard goes along for the ride as the group plans its next excursion. Destination: college.
WGA STRIKE
Ready for some reruns? There will be plenty of them to watch with 12,000 TV writers are on strike. What's keeping members of the Writers Guild of America and the TV producers apart? For a better understanding of the conflict Saul Gonzalez talked with Ray Richmond, TV critic and entertainment columnist for the Hollywood Reporter.
FIRE TOWER
Sharp eyes keep watch over Southern California forests for the earliest plumes of smoke. And some of the most dedicated watchers are volunteers. People who are willing to rough it high in a watch tower often spending nights miles away from the comforts of home. Reporter Sheryl Kahn wanted to see what it takes, so she made the climb to the Black Mountain watchtower in the San Bernardino National Forest.
CHURCHES AND FIRES
Several churches fell victim to the recent wildfires. But religious organizations of all denominations are reaching out to fire victims beyond their own congregations. Saul Gonzalez tells us the relief effort goes well beyond spiritual support.
SEX OFFENDER WITH NO PLACE TO LIVE
The law requires sex offenders to register and puts restrictions on where they can live. But are they too strict? Did the law intend to make parolees homeless? Hena Cuevas has the story of one rapist in Ventura who was forced to pitch a tent.
POLITICIANS' PRIVATE LIVES
Should politicians have to pay a price for lapses in ethics and indiscretions? Is it relevant to their jobs? That's the question for our kitchen table guests former L.A. Times editor, Bill Boyarsky, and government watchdog Bob Stern, along with David Lehrer of Community Advocates.
BLOCKBUSTER BOOSTER
Are you a fan of documentaries, independents and low-budget art films? Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan believes there are more than a few big-budget blockbusters that are also worth your while. He talks with Vicki Curry about his new book, Now in Theaters Everywhere.
KING CLINICS OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Contrary to public perception patients are still being treated at the former King Drew Medical Center, now King MACC. It was the ER and hospital that was closed. But as Toni Guinyard reports numerous out patient clinics are still open and welcoming patients in need of everything from stitches to chemo.
GROWING PAINS
Southern Californians are watching their neighborhoods change before their eyes the growing population, single family homes being replaced by apartments and condos, traffic getting worse, and the quality of life deteriorating. Since we can't stop growth, can we be smarter in the way we plan for it? That's the topic around our Kitchen Table, as Los Angeles City Planner Gail Goldberg and Bob Stern of the Center for Governmental Studies join David Lehrer of Community Advocates.
SHE COULD HAVE SUNG ALL NIGHT
Marni Nixon was the beautiful singing voice we heard coming out of Natalie Wood, Audrey Hepburn and Debra Kerr in classic movie musicals. Now she steps into the spotlight with a one woman show. Val Zavala talks with Nixon about what is like to be the dubber for movie stars and how it helped her build a long and successful career.
POT WARS
California's legalization of medical marijuana puts it at odds with federal drug laws. Jeffrey Kaye goes along with law enforcement teams who search out and destroy pot patches in U.S. forests.
TOO FEW STUDENTS
For years we've been hearing about overcrowded classrooms. Now a different trend is emerging – declining enrollments. In fact, half the districts in California are facing a drop in the number of students. That presents some serious new problems. What's causing the decline? Val Zavala gets answers from Mary Boger, a member of the Glendale school board.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and his film critics size up American Gangster, Martian Child and Before the Devil Knows You're Dead.
AVOCADO FARM FIRES
The wildfires may give a boost to home construction. But agriculture will be feeling the pain for years to come. Avocado growers were hit especially hard. Hena Cuevas goes to northern San Diego county where the $100 million dollars avocado industry is concentrated.
TOO FEW ANTIBIOTICS
Part of the war against drug-resistant infections is the development of new antibiotics. But over the past several years there has been a decline in the number of antibiotics drug companies are producing. Why? It has to do with profits. Toni Guinyard talks with Dr. John Edwards, head of infectious medicine at Harbor UCLA Medical Center.
STORIES OF A LIFETIME
They've lived full lives and have wonderful stories to tell. But how do you turn experiences into ten-minute monologs? That's where professional storyteller Barbara Clark comes in. Toni Guinyard goes to Vineyard Recreation Center in midtown L.A. for the final performances of this senior citizen story telling class. (L.A. Storytelling Festival this Nov. 10th)
AMONG THE ASHES
More than a dozen homes were lost in Modjeska Canyon in Orange County – the results of an arsonist. Sam Louie walks through the charred neighborhood talking with firefighters, evacuees and residents who narrowly escaped.
BURNING QUESTIONS
Most wildfires are considered a natural disaster, but many say they are un-natural. Val Zavala talks with San Bernardino Sun Reporter George Watson who says successful fire-suppression has led to bigger, more destructive blazes.
A NEW SPIN ON SPIDERS
Arachnophobiacs stay away. But the rest of us will be fascinated by the many orb weavers inhabiting the spider pavilion at the Natural History Museum of L.A. County. Val Zavala talks with the bug man, Brent Karner, whose love of spiders is contagious.
FIRES' ECONOMIC IMPACT
How much impact will the firestorm have on southern California's economy? Will the damage prove a drag on the economy? Will home rebuilding give it a boost? Hena Cuevas talks with Jack Kyser, of the L.A. County Economic Development Corporation.
BAKING BREAD FOR DAY OF THE DEAD
Halloween is not just about costumes and candy. In the Latino community, the Day of the Dead just wouldn't be the same without a certain kind of bread. Val Zavala goes to one of the oldest and best-known bakeries in East Los Angeles.
THE RECOVERY BEGINS
Firefighters who are still working to contain the remaining blazes at the end of long bruising week. In the meantime, fire victims are taking the first in a long series of steps to rebuild their houses and their lives. KCET's Jeffrey Kaye reports.
TRACKING DOWN ARSONISTS
The ferocious Santa Ana winds and an accomplice in on fire. Arsonists are suspected of starting the Santiago fire in Orange County that burned more than 20,000 acres. But what are they chances they'll catch him? Pretty slim according to fire officials who say they are notorious hard to track down. Philip Bruce looks back at an arson fires that continues to frustrate investigators.
CLAIMS ABOUT INSURANCE CLAIMS
You may have read stories about fire victims who risk losing their coverage if they put in a claim. But a spokesperson for the insurance industry says not true. To find out more about insurance coverage in the wake of wildfires Val Zavala talked with Candyss Miller of the Insurance Information Network. (IINC. org)
PRESIDENT BUSH VISITS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
President Bush arrives to view the extent of the massive damage from the wildfires. More than 1300 homes destroyed and a record number of evacuees has taxed resources. How well has the federal government responded? KCET's Jeffrey Kaye reports.
POLITICS OF WILDFIRE RELIEF
The President's visit triggers several questions: How does the government's response to the firestorm compare to the much criticized response to Katrina? What did federal agencies learn? How much of a difference does class and race make? Val Zavala talks to political analyst Sherry Bebitch Jeffe on the politics of disaster relief.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle of KPCC and his film critics take a look at Dan in Real Life, Slipstream and Jimmy Carter: Man from Plains.
WILDFIRES CONTINUE
We bring you the latest fire events across southern California from KCET's Jeffrey Kaye.
MORE AIR POWER
Why is a huge air bomber carrying cargo instead of dropping water on fires? Other technology like night vision goggles and GPS could also help. Why isn't it available to firefighters? Hena Cuevas talks to the head of a non-profit group trying to bridge the bureaucratic gap between firefighting tools and the front lines.
TO REBUILD OR NOT TO REBUILD
Over the next few months more than a thousand fire victims will have to decide whether to rebuild. Most will rebuild. So what should they do differently? Philip Bruce went to San Bernardino in the aftermath of the 2003 fire to look at what lessons to be learned from the Waterman Canyon fire.
FOUR-FOOTED BRUSH CLEARERS
When faced with a serious brush clearance challenge the Getty Center calls out the goats. Hena Cuevas meets the goat herder behind this low-tech fire safety team.
WILDFIRES SPREADING
Wildfires from Ventura County to the Mexican border have produced a record number of evacuees in California. Hundreds of thousands have been forced from their homes. The hardest hit is San Diego. KCET's Jeffrey Kaye looks at how they are coping in San Diego and across southern California.
MAKING TOUGH CHOICES
Firefighters often have to choose which house to protect and which house to leave to the whims of the fire. How do they decide? Hena Cuevas goes to Malibu to find out how firefighters size up houses that consider "defensible."
COMMUNICATING DURING A DISASTER
Getting the right information is tough during wildfires. But we found one Topanga community that is way out in front. They have created their own radio network to make sure people know what's really going on. Could other communities follow suit? Bob Jimenez finds out how and why they did it.
AND ON TOP OF THE WINDS -- DROUGHT
It's not just the hot Santa Ana winds that are wreaking havoc. It's the extremely dry conditions that have been developing over the past year. Hena Cuevas talks with JPL climatologist, Bill Patzert, about the drought that could last for many more years. f San Bernardino and got a tour from county supervisor Dennis Hansberger in the aftermath of the Waterman Canyon fire of 2003.
WILDFIRES RAGING
Firefighters knew it would be bad and it is. Tens of thousands of acres burned, homes lost, people evacuated, roads and schools closed. As Hena Cuevas reports, the only thing predictable about the hot Santa Ana winds is that they WILL usher in the most dangerous part of the fire season.
PREPARING FOR THE WORST
We've heard fire officials tell time and again – don't wait to be prepared for a disaster. But how many communities really have it together? We go to Topanga Canyon where a model plan is in place. As Bob Jimenez tells us they learned the hard way.
GET READY FOR A LONG DROUGHT
The fires make it hard to believe that just two years ago that we had record rains. So how is it we're now in a serious drought? Hena Cuevas gets an explanation from climatologist Bill Patzert from JPL.
BOG, FOG AND CARNIVOROUS PLANTS
We revisit the huge plant science center at the Huntington in San Marino. It features three climates, hundreds of plants from gorgeous orchids to hungry fly traps. Val Zavala get a tour of this fascinating greenhouse learning center from garden director, Jim Folsom.
IT'S NOT ALL ROSY
Passport to the World's Celebrations is the theme for the 2008 Rose Parade. One of the announced floats is designed to celebrate the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Human rights advocates are outraged. They accuse the Chinese government of continual human rights violations, including the persecution and imprisonment of members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement. Hena Cuevas looks into what happens when parades and politics collide.
HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER FIRE
Has the war on terrorism also launched an attack against human rights? The head of Amnesty International, Larry Cox, argues that anti-terrorism measures have provided cover for repressive action and the undermining of human rights i.e. Guantanamo and Hussein's rushed execution. Val Zavala talks with Cox who says it's time to put U.S. policies back on track.
WOODSTOCK WEST
It's been called one of the most important events of the Civil Rights Movement. Wattstax was a day-long concert held at the Los Angeles Coliseum in the early '70s. The concert was a mix of soul music, politics and empowerment for a community still recovering from the Watts Riots. Vicki Curry talks with Charmaine Jefferson, executive director of California African-American Museum about the 35th anniversary of Wattstax. [Wattstax: I am Somebody! is on exhibit at the museum through October 28. Go to www.caam.ca.gov for info]
ROLLIN' ON THE RIVER
Could it be that the one of the better ways to see the Los Angeles river is from a car? That's just one of the tours you can take to get a closer look at L.A.'s forgotten waterway. You'll be surprised to learn it's not just a concrete channel. Joe Linton of Friends of the L.A. River shows us the scenic spots that may surprise you. (www.folar.org for info on tours)
PALOMAR LIGHT POLLUTION
Scientists at Palomar Observatory in north San Diego County are having a hard time doing their job. Light pollution from urban areas is obstructing their view of the heavens. What can cities do about it? Roger Cooper says a fair amount if they are willing.
STAPH INFECTIONS
Staph infections have been around for centuries. But a new, more virulent strain of staph bacteria is turning up in places you wouldn't expect, and it resists treatment with known antibiotics. Toni Guinyard talks with health officials about whether they are concerned, and whether we need to be.
FILMWEEK
Larry Mantle and his panel of critics look at the new box office contenders. This week's films include Things We Lost in the Fire, Rendition, Reservation Road, and Gone Baby Gone.
SAVE OUR H2O
Long Beach is already taking drastic measures and other cities across Southern California may soon follow suit. Experts say we're headed into a drought and now is the time to enforce strict water saving rules. But it's not just the lack of rain that's producing a water crisis Orange County reporter Roger Cooper found out it also involves a tiny fish.
CHALLENGES ON THE HOME FRONT
A marine who goes to Iraq leaves his family facing problems and challenges. Wives often have a hard time handling the stress emotionally and financially. That's where a special military ministry comes in. Saul Gonzalez goes to Camp Pendleton where the war is taking its toll.
GO RIGHT TO THE SOURCE
It was one of the most popular shows on television in the early 1960s, and it's gained legions of new fans on cable. It's about a horse who can talk. And over the years Mr. Ed kept Americans entertained and wondering, "How did they get that horse to move his lips?!" Val Zavala got some answers straight from Wilbur's mouth.
DISAPPEARING DAIRIES
There's a land grab going on in the San Gabriel Valley. Dairy farmers are being offered good money from developers. Milk cows are turning into cash cows. But what does it mean for dairy farmers who lease their land? Where will they go? Sam Louie meets one farmer who has a hard decision to make.
THE PROMISE OF SIGHT REGAINED
Life was going just fine for Terry Byland. He had a good job, nice family, a good middle class life. And then got word that within a matter of years he would be completely blind. Life as he knew it was over. But then a new technology came along, one that he is helping to advance. It gives him back some of his sight and offers a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Val Zavala has his story.
3-D REVOLUTION
Hollywood is making another attempt at 3-D. You may remember the first time moviegoers would go into a theater and put on those wacky glasses. Well now filmmakers are trying out a whole new technology. Hena Cuevas takes us to a company on the cutting edge of 3-D.
COLLATERAL DAMAGE
The failure of King Harbor Hospital may have an impact no one saw coming. Many of Southern California's minority doctors graduated from Charles Drew University, and for decades, the University depended on King Harbor (formerly King Drew) to train its students. Now those students are leaving the area to seek training elsewhere. Toni Guinyard looks at the relationship between the two institutions, and the potential brain drain from the Hospital's closure.
JOHN DEAN
The man who implicated members of the Nixon administration during Watergate examines the current state of the federal government, and finds damage everywhere he looks. Saul Gonzalez talks with John Dean about his latest book, Broken Government: How Republican Rule Destroyed the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches.
HOMEGIRL CAFΙ
They gave up gangbanging to wait tables and learn to cook. The Homegirl Cafe in Boyle Heights offers fresh Mexican fare and a fresh start in life for young women. Val Zavala visits the restaurant (which got a great review in the L.A. Times) and met one woman who is serving meals instead of time.
TROUBLE BY THE SEA?
Its name conjurs up images of surf, sand and celebrities ... but environmentalists see a very different image of Malibu. They see hundreds of pipes draining onto public beaches from private homes. The City of Malibu says the pipes are legal; environmental groups are threatening to sue. Sam Louie combs the beach for some answers.
LEARNING GAP
What's holding back minority students in California schools? The latest scores show African Americans and Hispanics lag behind even in well-off communities. Could the problem be grounded in cultural values? Joe Hicks of Community Advocates moderates a lively debate at our Kitchen Table between Austin Dragon, President of the Southern California Republican Club and John Rogers of UCLA's Institute for Democracy, Education and Access.
CRIMES SEEN
They span eight decades of criminality from mobsters to modern day gangbangers. They are the photos from the LAPD archives mug shots, crime scenes, and of course murder victims. Want a peak? Vicki Curry got one when she headed down to the LAPD photo files.
GOING OVERSEAS FOR MEDICAL CARE
A woman from Culver City flew to Thailand for surgery and it wasn't cosmetic surgery. The procedure cost her about half of what it would have in the U.S. But how did she know if the doctors could be trusted? Hena Cuevas looks at a growing trend Americans getting less costly medical care overseas.
THE CLEANEST STREET IN LOS ANGELES
It's only a couple blocks long in a modest neighborhood between the L.A. River and the 5 freeway. But it's the cleanest street in the city, after an $800,000 renovation. What kind of clean? Val Zavala talks with Larry Smith of North East Trees who explains.
FILMWEEK on LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and his film critics give us the skinny on the new Hollywood releases.
YOUNG PRINCIPAL DELIVERS HIGH SCORES
An elementary school in Carson is proving that minority students from a poor neighborhood can test just as high as their affluent counterparts. And what's the catalyst behind this success? A first-time principal who took the reins when she was only twenty-seven. Sam Louie has her story.
ELIMINATE TAX ON CORPORATIONS?!
That advice comes from would you believe it one of America's foremost liberals, Robert Reich. The former Secretary of Labor and now an economics professor at Berkeley. Reich says if we want to clean up corporate culture, hating Wal-Mart won't work. So what will? Val Zavala continues her conversation with Reich about his new book Supercapitalism.
NOT YOUR TYPICAL HOME REPAIRS
It's been over 13 years since the Northridge quake and repairs are finally finished on an Encino home. Why did it take so long? Vicki Curry takes us to Los Encinos Adobe for a look at this a historic site and how the quake may have been a blessing in disguise.
PASADENA'S RACIAL TENSIONS
It would seem the City of Pasadena has it all... great architecture, universities, museums and a vibrant downtown. But it also has something that most people don't see tensions between two minorities. Black-Brown tension has surfaced in recent months in a series of attacks on Latino men. Sam Louie looks at what's behind these attacks and how Pasadena is responding.
ROBERT REICH ON CORPORATIONS
Corporations are not human beings. That is the message economist and writer Robert Reich would like all Americans to understand. And since they aren't people, don't expect corporations to be kind and generous or to have a conscience. Val Zavala spoke with former labor secretary Reich, who was a guest of TownHall Los Angeles, about how supercapitalism is threatening democracy, and about his proposed solution.
BOWER'S MUSEUM
This small Orange County museum has built an international reputation with displays of ancient treasure from around the world. Vicki Curry went to Santa Ana to find out how the staff of the Bowers Museum manages to pull off such coups.
IN CASE OF NUCLEAR ATTACK
A nuclear attack on southern California is hard to imagine. Some people are paid to imagine it, and to come up with a response. But as Toni Guinyard found out, just figuring out who should be in charge is a challenge.
SPYING BLIND
Six years after 9/11, is the U.S. any better prepared to thwart terrorist attacks? Saul Gonzalez talks with national security expert Amy Zegart about her new book, Spying Blind: The CIA, the FBI, and the Origins of 9/11. Zegart says the intelligence agencies may have changed in the wake of 9/11, but asks whether what they've done is enough to meet the threat?
FOUND ART
Artist George Herms finds beauty in the things other people throw away. He has spent 50 years taking the things that come across his path and turning them into art. Vicki Curry talks with this practitioner of the artform known as "assemblage" about his days in LA's Beat scene, and his newest venture, a jazz opera. (Herms work is part of an exhibit currently at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. For more info: www.lacma.org)
TIGHTENING IMMIGRATION HIRING LAWS
I.C.E. officials (formerly the INS) are cracking down on employers who hire undocumented workers by looking closely at social security numbers that don't match names. It could result in thousands of workers being fired. A coalition of unions, farmers and other employers are challenging I.C.E. in court. Roger Cooper takes a look at the impact of this new anti-illegal immigration effort.
FORECLOSURE ADVICE
There are some things homeowners can do if they see trouble ahead in making their mortgage payments. Sometimes acting early can save your home. And if foreclosure is unavoidable, there are ways to soften the blow. Val Zavala talks with CPA Michael Eisenberg.
TRUANTS ON TRIAL
The Huck Finn notion of hookey are gone. Today truancy is often the first step to prison. Can putting truants on trial help? David Okarski goes to Orange County to see how one community is tackling its truant problem.
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS IN CHILDREN
Post traumatic stress disorder is usually associated with soldiers in a war zone. But now researchers are finding it in a very different population school children. Many have witnessed accidents, domestic violence, even murders. So how do we treat them? As Toni Guinyard tells us PTSD is very different when it impacts children.
SOUTH GATE CORRUPTION
He could win the prize for the most corrupt politician in modern times in the L.A. area. But youve probably never heard his name. He is Albert Robles. He's now behind bars, but not after nearly bankrupting the small town of South Gate. Val Zavala talks with author Sam Quinones who tells the story of brazen corruption, one of many in his new book Antonio's Gun and Delfino's Dream.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
A look at Michael Clayton, The Darjeeling Limited, and Lust, Caution.
RIPPLE EFFECT FROM THE HOUSING SLUMP
The real estate slump is putting the brakes on more than just houses in Orange County. As O.C. Reporter Roger Cooper explains the slow down could impact O.C.'s great park and public coffers as well.
NOBEL LAUREATE'S ADVICE FOR GETTING AHEAD
In 1962 James Watson shared the Nobel Prize for figuring out the structure of DNA. Now at age 79 this outspoken scientist has some advice on how to get ahead whether you're a student or a university president. Val Zavala talks with Watson about his new book, Avoid Boring People.
A NEW SPIN ON SPIDERS
Arachnophobiacs stay away. But the rest of us will be fascinated by the many orb weavers inhabiting the spider pavilion at the Natural History Museum of L.A. County. Val Zavala talks with the bug man, Brent Karner, whose love of spiders is contagious.
SEX OFFENDER WITH NO PLACE TO LIVE
The law requires sex offenders to register and puts restrictions on where they can live. But are they too strict? Did the law intend to make parolees homeless? Hena Cuevas has the story of one rapist in Ventura who was forced to pitch a tent.
POLITICIANS' PRIVATE LIVES
Should politicians have to pay a price for lapses in ethics and indiscretions? Is it relevant to their jobs? That's the question for our kitchen table guests former L.A. Times editor, Bill Boyarsky, and government watchdog Bob Stern, along with David Lehrer of Community Advocates.
SOLVING MYSTERIES FROM WWII
World War II is on a lot of Americans' minds this week. Especially those who have lost loved ones and still don't know how they died. That's where Bill Beigel comes in. He's an expert at solving military mysteries. Val Zavala talked with this detective who can uncover details even the military didn't know.
LONG LIFE FOR 'FELIX THE CAT' SIGN?
Next to the Hollywood sign, it just may be the most recognized sign on the L.A. landscape. It's the Felix the Cat sign that hovers over the car dealership on Figueroa. Now it has been declared a historical landmark and is protected. But that has the owners of the car dealership upset. Why? Sam Louie takes a look at feud over Felix.
GOOGLE EARTH LOOKING UP
We all know Google Earth, the website that lets us look down on any spot on the planet. Now Google is looking upward, letting us explore the universe like we would our own neighborhood. Vicki Curry talks to two Cal Tech scientists who helped make Google Sky a reality.
DOGGY HEAVEN
Cris Franco's visit to a dog park is the winner of this year's L.A. Area Emmy for light feature. He visits a park in Laurel Canyon to see why this puppy park is such a draw for canines and their owners.
IMMIGRATION RAIDS: FEAR OR ENFORCEMENT?
Are they enforcing immigration laws? Or targeting Latino communities? I.C.E. agents have launched raids. (ICE is the new INS.) Officials say they are arresting people who have defied deportation orders. Critics say they are terrorizing Latino neighborhoods. Whats really happening? Roger Cooper went along on a pre-dawn raid to see the operation up close.
SEX OFFENDERS: THOUGHTS VS. DEEDS
The case of the self-proclaimed pedophile, Jack McClellan, has raised intriguing and emotional questions. Can a person be charged for obscene thoughts or plans expressed on the internet? A fascinating debate unfolds between two sharp legal minds: constitutional law professor Eugene Volokh, and attorney Anthony Zinnanti who won a restraining order against McClellan.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle of KPCC radio and his film critics give up their advice The Kingdom, Feast of Love, Trade and Great World of Sound.
Thursday's Life & Times was pre-empted by the Republican PBS All-American Presidential Forum moderated by Tavis Smiley.
COMPETITION FOR OFFICERS
L.A. needs police officers. But so do many other cities across America. How far will cities go to get the best candidates? NewsHour correspondent Jeffrey Kaye takes a look at recruitment challenges.
IN SEARCH OF WATER
The Phoenix Lander is on its way to the red planet in search of water. Scientists will be thrilled if they find it. Sam Louie talks with to mission director Barry Goldstein of JPL.
PRESIDENTIAL GIFTS
What do people – dignitaries and the common folk – give to a president? We get an eyeful when Vicki Curry visits the Reagan Library for a look at its permanent collection of gifts to President Ronald Reagan.
HOOPNOTICA
If you wait long enough everything old will be new again. That is certainly the case for the hoola hoop. Hena Cuevas checks out a fun and unusual class by Rayna McInturf.
MANDARIN TEACHERS
One in five Chinese citizen is learning English, getting ready for the global economy. But too few Americans speak Chinese. Now a few southern Californian public schools are getting students interested in Mandarin. How do they start? Four teachers from China is a beginning. Sam Louie reports.
KEN BURNS ON "THE WAR"
All this week Americans veterans are re-living WWII through Ken Burns epic The War. Despite the controversy among Latinos, Burns is still America's premier documentary maker. Val Zavala talks with Burns about how he got into filmmaking and the art of documentaries.
L.A.'s ECCENTRIC SIMON RODIA
He was one of L.A.'s most creative and eccentric characters. Simon Rodia was the Italian immigrant with the tall imagination, the builder of the Watts Towers. This weekend is the 31st Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival. Val Zavala meets a filmmaker who spent years producing a detailed documentary on the life of Simon Rodia.
HISTORY VS. HIGH RISES
Universal Studios wants to expand, but part of the expansion would overshadow an important part of California history, crowding it between two high rises. Critics ask if this is any way to treat our history? Hena Cuevas takes a look at how the future threatens to dwarf the past.
MEXICAN MAFIA INFLUENCE SPREADING
One of the most powerful gangs in the country is not on the streets of Los Angeles. It's in our prisons. Despite being behind bars the Mexican Mafia is responsible for hundreds of gang killings each year. Now a new book looks at how the Mexican Mafia is corrupting gang prevention programs and even some local politicians. Saul Gonzalez talked with author Tony Rafael, a Los Angeles writer who has spent ten years researching gangs.
GOING FOR A BOTTLE CAP RECORD
Danny Ginsberg's mother once suggested he curb his boredom by collecting bottle caps. Now, after decades of collecting, Danny is aiming for a place in the Guiness book of world records. And when you see how many bottle caps he has he just might make it.
UNITED WAY CHANGING COURSE
The United Way is one of the best known charities in the country. Now United Way of Greater L.A. is making some big changes. It is focusing its millions of charitable dollars on one key issue poverty. But that means that many non-profits will go empty handed. Toni Guinyard takes a look at this strategic shift in philanthropic giving.
WHAT DOES AL QAEDA REALLY BELIEVE?
Its been six years since 9-11. What do Americans really know about what Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden want? There are the usual issues Israel, western decadence, occupation of Iraq. But now writings never before translated reveal more disturbing objectives. Val Zavala talks with Raymond Ibrahim, editor and translator of the The Al Qaeda Reader.
WHICH WAY FOR NASA?
The space shuttles days are numbered. It will be retired in three years. What will take it's place? NASA is working on new vehicles and equipment to allow astronauts to walk on planets. But critics say billions spent on manned missions is not the wisest use of money. Tom Bearden (NewsHour) takes a look at the direction and uncertainties in NASA's next chapter.
KING CLINICS OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Contrary to public perception patients are still being treated at the former King Drew Medical Center, now King MACC. It was the ER and hospital that was closed. But as Toni Guinyard reports numerous out patient clinics are still open and welcoming patients in need of everything from stitches to chemo.
GROWING PAINS
Southern Californians are watching their neighborhoods change before their eyes – the growing population, single family homes being replaced by apartments and condos, traffic getting worse, and the quality of life deteriorating. Since we can't stop growth, can we be smarter in the way we plan for it? That's the topic around our Kitchen Table, as Los Angeles City Planner Gail Goldberg and Bob Stern of the Center for Governmental Studies join David Lehrer of Community Advocates.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and critics review the latest big screen releases, including The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford; Into the Wild, and The Jane Austen Book Club.
NUCLEAR POWER PUSH
There have been no new nuclear power plants built in California for three decades, but that may soon change. Reports of global warming have spurred new interest in alternative energy sources. Should the state life its moratorium on new nuclear plants? Roger Cooper explores whether Californians are ready to warm up to nuclear power.
FISCAL WAKE-UP CALL
U.S. Comptroller David Walker is traveling the country to sound the alarm over the federal budget. He warns that the combination of an aging population, rising healthcare costs and a drop in personal savings signals an impending crisis. Hena Cuevas talks with Walker about Medicare, Social Security, and the challenges facing the next president. Walker was a guest speaker at TownHall Los Angeles (townhall-la.org).
BOG, FOG AND CARNIVOROUS PLANTS
We revisit the huge plant science center at the Huntington in San Marino. It features three climates, hundreds of plants from gorgeous orchids to hungry fly traps. Val Zavala get a tour of this fascinating greenhouse learning center from garden director, Jim Folsom.
IT'S NOT ALL ROSY
Passport to the World's Celebrations is the theme for the 2008 Rose Parade. One of the announced floats is designed to celebrate the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Human rights advocates are outraged. They accuse the Chinese government of continual human rights violations, including the persecution and imprisonment of members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement. Hena Cuevas looks into what happens when parades and politics collide.
HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER FIRE
Has the war on terrorism also launched an attack against human rights? The head of Amnesty International, Larry Cox, argues that anti-terrorism measures have provided cover for repressive action and the undermining of human rights i.e. Guantanamo and Hussein's rushed execution. Val Zavala talks with Cox who says it's time to put U.S. policies back on track.
WOODSTOCK WEST
It's been called one of the most important events of the Civil Rights Movement. Wattstax was a day-long concert held at the Los Angeles Coliseum in the early '70s. The concert was a mix of soul music, politics and empowerment for a community still recovering from the Watts Riots. Vicki Curry talks with Charmaine Jefferson, executive director of California African-American Museum about the 35th anniversary of Wattstax. [Wattstax: I am somebody! is on exhibit at the museum through October 28. Go to www.caam.ca.gov for info]
ROLLIN' ON THE RIVER
Could it be that the one of the better ways to see the Los Angeles river is from a car? That's just one of the tours you can take to get a closer look at L.A.'s forgotten waterway. You'll be surprised to learn it's not just a concrete channel. Joe Linton of Friends of the L.A. River shows us the scenic spots that may surprise you. (www.folar.org for info on tours)
BRITISH-OWNED SUPERMARKET COMES TO SOCAL
Socal supermarkets have survived a bitter strike, competition from Wal-Mart, and strained labor relations. Now a British company, Tesco, is opening a dozen "Fresh & Easy" stores in L.A. County. Will they succeed? And will they fulfill the promises they are making to communities? Toni Guinyard talks to Tesco officials and community leaders who plan to hold Tesco to its promises.
MATTEL RECALL AND LEAD DANGER
Mattel's recall of almost 10 million toys points to the latest hazardous product to come out of China. The concern this time is lead in the paint on the toys. How does lead harm children and how do parents detect lead poisoning? Val Zavala talks with pediatrician Dr. Robert Adler from Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and Director of the California Lead Prevention Project.
EDWARD WESTON'S EVOLUTION
In the early 1900s master photographer Edward Weston established his career in Glendale, California. But he is best known for his nudes, then his stunning landscapes from Mexico and across America. Assistant curator, Brett Abbott from the Getty gives us insight into the fascinating evolution's of Weston's images.
SO THAT'S WHO INVENTED THE POST-IT
It was a persistent employee to brought us the post-it. What a smart idea. He must be rich. Right? Cris Franco brings us the story of Mr. Post-it.
BELMONT BOONDOGGLE
It was supposed to cost $45 million. Now the projection for the new high school near downtown has swollen to $400 million the most expensive high school in the nation. It is no longer called Belmont Learning Center. The new name is Vista Hermosa. But can a new name erase a troubled past? Sam Louie has the story.
BRIDGING THE GENERATION GAP WITH HISTORY
Just when you think our young people don't have a sense of history, high school students in Santa Monica are gathering original stories from WWII vets before they are lost forever. Toni Guinyard looks at this unusual oral history project that has sparked valuable relationships between young and old.
THE OTHER SIDE OF GENE AUTRY
There was another side to the guitar-slinging singing cowboy we saw in the movies the business side. Vicki Curry talks with Holly George-Warren, author of "Public Cowboy #1: The Life & Times of Gene Autry" at the Autry National Center where an exhibit is commemorating his 100th anniversary.
COLLATERAL DAMAGE
The failure of King Harbor Hospital may have an impact no one saw coming. Many of Southern California's minority doctors graduated from Charles Drew University, and for decades, the University depended on King Harbor (formerly King Drew) to train its students. Now those students are leaving the area to seek training elsewhere. Toni Guinyard looks at the relationship between the two institutions, and the potential brain drain from the Hospital's closure.
JOHN DEAN
The man who implicated members of the Nixon administration during Watergate examines the current state of the federal government, and finds damage everywhere he looks. Saul Gonzalez talks with John Dean about his latest book, Broken Government: How Republican Rule Destroyed the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches.
FILMWEEK on LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and critics review the latest big screen releases, including Eastern Promises, Across the Universe, The Brave One, and In the Valley of Elah.
TROUBLE BY THE SEA?
Its name conjurs up images of surf, sand and celebrities ... but environmentalists see a very different image of Malibu. They see hundreds of pipes draining onto public beaches from private homes. The City of Malibu says the pipes are legal; environmental groups are threatening to sue. Sam Louie combs the beach for some answers.
LEARNING GAP
What's holding back minority students in California schools? The latest scores show African Americans and Hispanics lag behind even in well-off communities. Could the problem be grounded in cultural values? Joe Hicks of Community Advocates moderates a lively debate at our Kitchen Table between Austin Dragon, President of the Southern California Republican Club and John Rogers of UCLA's Institute for Democracy, Education and Access.
CRIMES SEEN
They span eight decades of criminality from mobsters to modern day gangbangers. They are the photos from the LAPD archives mug shots, crime scenes, and of course murder victims. Want a peak? Vicki Curry got one when she headed down to the LAPD photo files.
LICENSE PLATES FIGHTING TERRORISM?
Thousands of Californians paid more for special license plates with the expectation that the money would go toward homeland security measures. Today $8 million dollars has been raised. So why is 85% of it still unspent? Roger Cooper went looking for some answers.
SPYING BLIND
Six years after 9/11, is the U.S. any better prepared to thwart terrorist attacks? Saul Gonzalez talks with national security expert Amy Zegart about her new book, Spying Blind: The CIA, the FBI, and the Origins of 9/11. Zegart says the intelligence agencies may have changed in the wake of 9/11, but asks whether what they've done is enough to meet the threat?
FOUND ART
Artist George Herms finds beauty in the things other people throw away. He has spent 50 years taking the things that come across his path and turning them into art. Vicki Curry talks with this practitioner of the artform known as "assemblage" about his days in LA's Beat scene, and his newest venture, a jazz opera. (Herms work is part of an exhibit currently at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. For more info: www.lacma.org)
LIFE-SAVING DOGS IN DEMAND
They're extraordinary dogs who can find human survivors in the rubble of earthquakes, explosions and other disasters. Training them is the work of a remarkable 73-year-old woman who takes pound animals, turns them into expert rescue canines, then matches them to firefighter/handlers for life. How does she do it? Hena Cuevas went to Ojai to find out.
DON'T SCRAP THOSE SINKS!
What happens to all the perfectly good lumber, plumbing, sinks, windows, door, bathtubs and more that get bulldozed during demolitions? They fill up landfills. But now one organization is taking the time to rescue and re-use them. Why isn't it done more often? Sam Louie reports.
ROOFTOP GARDENS
You don't have to have a plot of earth to create a garden. Some roof tops make for the perfect refuge and deliver some surprising ecological benefits as well. Rebecca Tolin from our sister station KPBS in San Diego explores one of the state's most innovative rooftop gardens.
INSTRUCTIONS FROM ALIENS
We go on a "Magical Mystery Tour of California" with a visit to a desert dome called the Integratron. This acoustically perfect wooden dome was built by an engineer who claimed he was told by aliens to build this life-extending structure. Does it work? Student-journalist Heather Downie from the News21 project at USC's Annenberg School of Journalism brings us this story.
INDIAN CASINO IN GARDEN GROVE?
The Gabrielino-Tongva tribe is floating the idea of a lavish Vegas-style casino and resort in Garden Grove. The idea is to attract Disneyland tourists and deliver millions to city coffers. There are a few hurdles however. For example, the tribe doesn't own any land in Garden Grove. Is this a feasible plan or a fantasy? Roger Cooper looks at the grand plans.
CALIFORNIA'S FRAGILE INFRASTRUCTURE
The sudden collapse of the Minneapolis bridge is a stark reminder of the price of deferred maintenance. California is no exception. And it's not just bridges. Perhaps most precarious is our network of levees in the Central Valley. For years experts have warned that the century-old levees need reinforcing. Reporter Craig Miller looks at what's at stake.
KEYBOARD CARS
There are only two cars like this on the planet, covered bumper to bumper with keys from old teletype machines. What possessed the owners/artists to spend countless hours on these alphabetic exteriors? Can you take them through a car wash?
FINDING GOD ON SALVATION MOUNTAIN
We continue our "Magical Mystery Tour of California" featuring the work of student reporters from News21, a summer program for advanced journalism students at USC's Annenberg School of Journalism. Today's report by Allison Louie looks at how a hot air balloon inspired an eccentric believer to build a personal monument to God in the desert.
TIGHTENING IMMIGRATION HIRING LAWS
I.C.E. officials (formerly the INS) are cracking down on employers who hire undocumented workers by looking closely at social security numbers that don't match names. It could result in thousands of workers being fired. A coalition of unions, farmers and other employers are challenging I.C.E. in court. Roger Cooper takes a look at the impact of this new anti-illegal immigration effort.
FORECLOSURE ADVICE
There are some things homeowners can do if they see trouble ahead in making their mortgage payments. Sometimes acting early can save your home. And if foreclosure is unavoidable, there are ways to soften the blow. Val Zavala talks with CPA Michael Eisenberg.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and his movie critics give us their picks among the latest big screen releases.
THE CHANGING FACE OF THE POOR
Being poor isnt what it used to be. The federal government says 11% of Californians live in poverty. Critics say it is actually 30%. A major push is on to update the way the government defines poverty. And as Toni Guinyard found out, poor people these days dont fit the typical picture.
SINGLE PAYER HEALTH SYSTEM?
The number of employers offering health coverage continues to erode. Is it time we look seriously at a single payer health care system? A bill making the government that payer is pending in the California state legislature. What are the pros and cons? An informative kitchen table debate this week pits a doctor who supports the idea against a former state Assemblyman.
ART FROM A BOILER ROOM
It's hot, noisy and dirty, but that's where one Oxnard artist has found inspiration. And the results are hanging in galleries and museums in Ventura County. Independent filmmakers Josh Harman and Ryan Kohler take us down to the boiler room. (His art is at Rivasart.com)
EARLY ALZHEIMER'S
He just turned 50, but he already knows what lies ahead Alzheimer's. How is he preparing for the inevitable? Especially when he also has to take care of his 85-year-old mother. Hena Cuevas meets Richard Bozanich of Rancho Palos Verdes as he faces the challenges of early Alzheimer's.
SCHIZOPHRENIA & GOD
The person in this story is no longer alive. He died recently of cancer. He suffered from schizophrenia, was sometimes homeless, and God was part of his delusions. Spiritual beliefs often intertwine with mental illness, and doctors say they should not be discounted. Student reporter Amy Tenowich brings us his moving story.
AVIATOR JIMMY DOOLITTLE
He is one of America's least appreciated heroes. Jimmy Doolittle lead the 1942 raid on Tokyo, set aviation records, became a four-star General, and was named one of America's top ten aviators. Vicki Curry talks with his granddaughter, Jonna, about her book Calculated Risk: the Extraordinary Life of Jimmy Doolittle.
WHEN AFFLUENCE ISN'T ENOUGH
He was earning more than half a million a year as a successful Hollywood producer. Why would he want to turn his back on the good life to stare poverty in the face? Hena Cuevas profiles Gerard Straub who travels to the world's poorest countries with a camera that doesn't blink.
FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE
She was living the American dream, a beautiful family and a comfortable life in Beverly Hills. But nothing prepared Brenda Freiberg for the loss of, not one, but two sons to AIDS. Her journey took her to India, where she works to relieve the pain of this relentless epidemic.
UNUSUAL DOCTORS' ROUNDS
Meet a remarkable group of health professionals who make "house calls" to those without homes. Hena Cuevas went along to see how they administer health care on skid row.
RELEASED WITHOUT AN APOLOGY
A $101 million payment to four convicts who were framed for murder and released, is the exception. In the vast majority of cases innocent inmates get nothing not even an apology. Saul Gonzalez looks at one organization that is helping the wrongly convicted get their lives started again.
REPORT CARD ON HEART SURGEONS
If you need coronary bypass surgery wouldn't you want to know how good your surgeon is? Well, now you can. It's part of a growing trend toward transparency in medical care. The latest report comes from the state of California and it ranks hospitals and doctors on mortality rates for bypass coronary surgery.
L.A. FOR WALKERS
There's the joke: "What do you call pedestrians in L.A?" Answer: Los Angeles Dodgers. But contrary to popular humor there are actually plenty of places in L.A. to enjoy on foot. Want some suggestions? Vicki Curry met an avid walker who has gathered several dozen suggested routes in a book called Walking L.A.
IMMIGRATION RAIDS: FEAR OR ENFORCMENT?
Are they enforcing immigration laws? Or targeting Latino communities? I.C.E. agents have launched raids. (ICE is the new INS.) Officials say they are arresting undocumented residents who have defied deportation orders. But critics say they are terrorizing Latino neighborhoods. What's really happening? Roger Cooper went along on a pre-dawn raid to see the operation up close.
SEX OFFENDERS: THOUGHTS VS. DEEDS
The case of the self-proclaimed pedophile Jack McClellan has raised intriguing and emotional questions. Can a person be charged for obscene thoughts or thoughts expressed on the internet? Or must a person actually harm a child to be charged? A fascinating debate unfolds between two sharp legal minds: constitutional law professor Eugene Volokh, and attorney Anthony Zinnanti who won a restraining order against McClellan.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and his film critics give their take on upcoming flicks.
LONG LIFE FOR 'FELIX THE CAT' SIGN?
Next to the Hollywood sign, it just may be the most recognized sign on the L.A. landscape. It's the Felix the Cat sign that hovers over the car dealership on Figueroa. Now it has been declared a historical landmark and is protected. But that has the owners of the car dealership upset. Why? Sam Louie takes a look at feud over Felix.
GOOGLE EARTH LOOKING UP
We all know Google Earth, the website that lets us look down on any spot on the planet. Now Google is looking upward, letting us explore the universe like we would our own neighborhood. Vicki Curry talks to two Cal Tech scientists who helped make Google Sky a reality.
DOGGY HEAVEN
Cris Franco's visit to a dog park is the winner of this year's L.A. Area Emmy for light feature. He visits a park in Laurel Canyon to see why this puppy park is such a draw for canines and their owners.
EXPANSION VS HISTORY
The Universal Studios entertainment complex wants to expand. But part of the project borders an important piece of California history. Critics say this is no way to treat our heritage. Hena Cuevas looks at how the future threatens to dwarf the past.
MEXICAN MAFIA
It's one of the most powerful gangs in the country and it's power base is not on the streets of Los Angeles; it's behind bars. Authorities liken it to a giant corporation that controls hundreds of subsidiary gangs. Saul Gonzalez talks with Tony Rafael, an LA author who spent 10 years researching the gang for his book, The Mexican Mafia.
WORLD'S LARGEST PHOTO
A group of photographers thought it would be interesting to turn an empty airplane hanger at the now-closed El Toro Air Base into a giant (disposable) camera. What kind of photo did "The Great Picture Project" produce? Orange County reporter Roger Cooper sizes up the result. [The photo will soon be on display at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. For more info www.legacyphotoproject.com]
VICTIMS OF THE CHURCH
The L.A. Archdiocese of the Catholic Church has agreed to pay $660 million dollars to more than 500 people who were sexually abused by priests. But can money undo the damage from pedophiles? Toni Guinyard looks at their plight and meets one woman in Monrovia who is healing in a unique way.
A TRILLION DOLLARS IN REAL ESTATE
L.A. County has reached a milestone. The value of all the real estate in L.A. County has crossed the trillion dollar mark driven by rising home prices. That's great for county coffers. But what happens when the market starts slipping? Val Zavala talks with the top tax man, Rick Auerbach, about your property tax dollars.
THE BEST TIME TO BE BLACK
USC writer and professor Toddy Boyd says it was great growing up Black in the '70s. He calls it the richest, most vibrant period for Black culture ever. Saul Gonzalez talks with Boyd about his new book The Notorious Phd.'s Guide to the Super Fly '70s.
FREE WIRELESS SERVICE
The city of Riverside is getting a technological edge over other cities. It is launching free wireless internet service across the city. It hopes to lure businesses, save taxpayer money, and help students too. Will it pay off? Roger Cooper goes to Riverside to explore a growing trend.
ROLLING STOPS CAUGHT ON TAPE
We're all familiar with cameras at stop lights that catch drivers going through red lights. But now at some intersections in Santa Monica video cameras are catching drivers sliding past stop signs. Is this going too far? Toni Guinyard takes a close look a this new traffic tool.
DANCING IN PLACE
An unusual dance company doesn't need a stage to perform. It creates dances for every place from hotel lobbies to laundromats. Vicki Curry looks at the Collage Dance Theater headed by Artistic Director Heidi Duckler.
UNITED WAY CHANGING COURSE
The United Way is one of the best known charities in the country. Now United Way of Greater L.A. is making some big changes. It is focusing its millions of charitable dollars on one key issue poverty. But that means that many non-profits will go empty handed. Toni Guinyard takes a look at this strategic shift in philanthropic giving.
JUSTICE BY GEOGRAPHY?
Should punishment for a crime be based on where you live? If you're a juvenile who commits a serious crime, you're more likely to get a long sentence in Orange County than in San Francisco. Roger Cooper went to The Orange County Register to talk with investigative reporter Jenifer McKim about how justice for juveniles is not equitable.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle of KPCC and his movie critics size up Nanny Diaries, Resurrecting the Champ, Mr. Bean's Holiday and Dedication.
MUSSELING IN ON WATERWAYS
How could a mollusk the size of your thumb be a huge threat to southern California reservoirs and aqueducts? State officials are working to head off disaster from a small mussel that is nearly impossible to get rid off once it's established. It's already created havoc in Michigan waters. Roger Cooper has our story.
WHAT DOES AL QAEDA REALLY BELIEVE?
It's been six years since 9-11. What do Americans really know about what Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden want? There are the usual issues Israel, western decadence, occupation of Iraq. But now writings never before translated reveal more disturbing objectives. Val Zavala talks with Raymond Ibrahim, editor and translator of the The Al Qaeda Reader.
WHICH WAY FOR NASA?
Shuttle landings like the one this week are numbered. The shuttle will be retired in three years. What will take it's place? NASA is working on new vehicles and equipment to allow astronauts to walk on planets. But critics say billions spent on manned missions is not the wisest use of government funds. Tom Bearden takes a look at the direction and uncertainties in NASA's next chapter.
IS YOUR GYM EQUIPPED FOR A HEART ATTACK?
Every year 250,000 Americans die of cardiac arrest. It often happens when people are exercising. Now a new law requires a life-saving piece of equipment in every gym and health club in the state. But why are so few complying? Roger Cooper has our story.
CHURCHES AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
A handful of churches and temples in southern California have declared themselves sanctuaries for (selected) illegal immigrants. Does religious law trump federal law? That's the question we pose at our kitchen table conversation with Joe Hicks of CommUnity Advocates, Lupe Moreno with Latino Americans for Immigration Reform who is against sanctuary, and supporting sanctuary is Rabbi Steven Jacobs with the Progressive Faith Foundation.
GOING FOR A BOTTLE CAP RECORD
Mothers be careful what you tell you kids. Danny Ginsberg's mom suggested he curb his boredom by collecting bottle caps. Now, after years of collecting, Danny is going for the Guiness record. How many bottle caps does he have? Would you believe six million! And as Val Zavala found out it's much more than a hobby.
SANCTUARY FOR ILLEGAL WORKERS
Immigration agents arrested sanctuary activist Elvira Arellano over the weekend. She had been protected by a Chicago church, but was arrested here in Los Angeles when she came to speak. About a dozen churches and temples in the L.A. have declared themselves sanctuaries for illegal immigrants. Toni Guinyard looks at both sides of the sanctuary debate and meets Jose who has taken refuge at La Placita Church in the heart of L.A.
BEYOND "SICKO"
A doctor who helped start one of the country's first managed care practices says "Sicko" didn't go far enough. He predicts that health insurance companies will go out of business and a single-payer system is inevitable. Val Zavala talks with health care reformer, Dr. Robert Gumbiner, author of "Curing Our Sick Health Care System."
CULTURE CLASH
They made their reputation as a comedy troop. But the last few years they've a decidedly different turn. Culture Clash has gotten serious about Mexican-American history and issues. They tackled the story of Chavez Ravine on stage several years ago. And they've take a critical look at the powers that be in L.A..Vicki Curry reports. (Culture Clashes new production "Zorro in Hell" is currently at the Ricardo Montalban Theater.)
CONSUMER GAS RIP OFF?
Did you know that in hot weather gasoline at the pump expands? You may not being getting a full gallon even though you're paying for it. In Canada they make adjustments for "hot gas." Should gas stations here do the same? Sam Louie looks at both sides of the hot gas debate.
WALL STREET INTEGRITY
Cris Cox is Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission which is responsible for monitoring Wall Street and public corporations. The SEC has been accused of leaning towards corporate interests. Cox says not so, "If a business is investor-friendly, the SEC will be friendly to it." Val Zavala talks the former Orange County Congressman about keeping Wall Street honest.
ARTIST ED MOSES AT 81
He's been one of the central figures in the Los Angeles painting scene since the late '50s. Now Ed Moses' work explodes with color and bold shapes. Vicki Curry visits Moses at his studio in Venice the day after his birthday to explore his long career. (You can see Moses' work as part of the "SoCal" exhibit at LACMA.)
MORE SLOT MACHINES FOR INDIAN CASINOS? - UPDATE
The Morongo tribe is among several lobbying Sacramento for tens of thousands of more slot machines. (There are already 60,000 at Indian casinos statewide.) Proponents say the slots will help California's budget. But critics say enough is enough, and wealthy Indian casinos do not provide employees with adequate health benefits. Which way will the legislature go? Will hefty contribution from tribes sway state lawmakers? Roger Cooper reports.
SEARCH FOR WATER ON MARS
The Phoenix Mars lander is headed to red planet, scheduled to arrive in May of 2008. If scientists' predictions prove right it will find something key to life water. Sam Louie talks with mission director Barry Goldstein at JPL about how the lander will descend and what water will mean if they find it.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle of KPCC and his film critics size up the latest Hollywood offerings.
LICENSE PLATES FIGHTING TERRORISM?
Thousands of Californians paid more for special license plates with the expectation that the money would go toward homeland security measures. Today $8 million dollars has been raised. So why is 85% of it still unspent? Roger Cooper went looking for some answers.
MATTEL RECALL AND LEAD DANGER
Mattel's recall of almost 10 million toys points to the latest hazardous product to come out of China. The concern this time is lead in the paint on the toys. How does lead harm children and how do parents detect lead poisoning? Val Zavala talks with pediatrician Dr. Robert Adler from Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and Director of the California Lead Prevention Project.
EDWARD WESTON'S EVOLUTION
In the early 1900s master photographer Edward Weston established his career in Glendale, California. But he is best known for his nudes, then his stunning landscapes from Mexico and across America. Assistant Curator, Brett Abbott from the Getty gives us insight into the fascinating evolution of Weston's images.
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
August 15th is Korean Independence and one of the four days of the year when the Korean Friendship Bell in San Pedro is rung. Most Angelenos are unaware of this beautiful gift from Korean. Val Zavala visits Angels Gate Park in San Pedro where she got a chance to hear what a 17-ton bell sounds like.
BELMONT BOONDOGGLE
It was supposed to cost $45 million. Now the projection for the new high school near downtown has swollen to $400 million the most expensive high school in the nation. It is no longer called Belmont Learning Center. The new name is Vista Hermosa. But can a new name erase a troubled past? Sam Louie has the story.
BRIDGING THE GENERATION GAP WITH HISTORY
Just when you think our young people don't have a sense of history, high school students in Santa Monica are gathering original stories from WWII vets before they are lost forever. Toni Guinyard looks at this unusual oral history project that has sparked valuable relationships between young and old.
THE OTHER SIDE OF GENE AUTRY
There was another side to the guitar-slinging singing cowboy we saw in the movies the business side. Vicki Curry talks with Holly George-Warren, author of Public Cowboy #1: The Life & Times of Gene Autry at the Autry National Center where an exhibit is commemorating his 100th anniversary.
SHOULD THIS HIGH SCHOOL BE CLOSED?
What matters most? Test scores, or sending seniors to college? At a high school in Pacoima that's the quandary facing school officials who have to decide whether to renew its charter. Sam Louie looks at how a school with low test scores can send so many students to college, and what will happen to Discovery Prep.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH INMATES
The number of inmates in California's prisons has reached a record 170,000. But what about the thousands of women with husbands or boyfriends behind bars? Bridget Kinsella, a college graduate and author of Visiting Life, was one of them. Val Zavala talks with her about how she fell in love with a murderer doing life in Pelican Bay.
REMEMBERING MERV GRIFFIN
Merv Griffin singer, talk-show host, producer and businessman died yesterday at age 82. We look back at this Hollywood icon as Griffin gives Patt Morrison a tour of his favorite Hollywood spots.
GOODBYE TO SKID ROW
A once-homeless woman and her daughter are saying goodbye to a shelter near skid row and heading to the suburbs. But her new home a shelter in Sylmar for more than 200 women and children almost didn't open when local residents launched a fight against it. Sam Louie has the story of Hope Gardens.
DON'T BUY AN AIR CONDITIONER UNTIL....
Notice to consumers: Starting in 2010 a new law is changing the kind of refrigerant used in air conditioners. So don't buy a new air conditioner unless it can use the new refrigerant. Val Zavala gets details from an air conditioner distributor. (info at greenerhomeair.org)
MEXICAN MURALISTS UNDER THE STARS
Diego Rivera's murals come to life at night when they're projected onto an outside wall at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach. Do hundreds of people really spend a Saturday night in folding chairs in a parking lot listening to an art lecture? Yes, they do. They are drawn in by life-size murals and the passion of Museum Director, Gregorio Luke. (Final summer mural lecture is August 11th featuring work of Siqueiros.)
MOUNT SHASTA
Student journalist Amy Tenowich from a program at USC's Annenberg School of Journalism brings us the final installment of our "Magical Mystery Tour of California." She goes to the highest point in California where people seek to cleanse their auras and adjust their shakras. But they are also clashing with Native Americans who have a different approach to appreciating Mt. Shasta.
BRITISH-OWNED SUPERMARKET COMES TO SOCAL
Socal supermarkets have survived a bitter strike, competition from Wal-Mart, and strained labor relations. Now a British company, Tesco, is opening a dozen "Fresh & Easy" stores in L.A. County. Will they succeed? And will they fulfill the promises they are making to communities? Toni Guinyard talks to Tesco officials and community leaders who plan to hold Tesco to its promises.
OJAI VALLEY: PATHWAY TO HEAVEN
The Chumash Indians considered the Ojai Valley so sacred that they took their fighting elsewhere. Today it's home to eastern religions and mystical pursuits. But can these metaphysical interests withstand heavy tourism and upscale development? Student journalist Shirley Shin from the News21 project at USC's Annenberg School of Journalism bring us the latest installment of our "Magical Mystery Tour of California."
FILMWEEK on LIFE & TIMES
KPCC film critics give us their opinions of Stardust, Two Days in Paris and Rocket Science.
LIFE-SAVING DOGS IN DEMAND
They're extraordinary dogs who can find human survivors in the rubble of earthquakes, explosions and other disasters. Training them is the work of a remarkable 73-year-old woman who takes pound animals, turns them into expert rescue canines, then matches them to firefighter/handlers for life. How does she do it? Hena Cuevas looks went to Ojai to find out.
DON'T SCRAP THOSE SINKS!
What happens to all the perfectly good lumber, plumbing, sinks, windows, door, bathtubs and more that get bulldozed during demolitions? They fill up landfills. But now one organization is taking the time to rescue and re-use. Why isn't it done more often? Sam Louie reports.
ROOFTOP GARDENS
You don't have to have a plot of earth to create a garden. Some rooftoops make for the perfect refuge and deliver some surprising ecological benefits as well. Rebecca Tolin from our sister station KPBS in San Diego explores one of the state's most innovative rooftop gardens.
INSTRUCTIONS FROM ALIENS
We continue our "Magical Mystery Tour of California" with a visit to a desert dome called the Integratron. This acoustically-perfect wooden dome was built by an engineer who claimed he was told by aliens to build this life-extending structure. Does it work? Student journalist Heather Downie from the News21 project at USC's Annenberg School of Journalism reports.
INDIAN CASINO IN GARDEN GROVE?
The Gabrielino-Tongva tribe is floating the idea of a lavish Vegas-style casino and resort in Garden Grove. The idea is to attract Disneyland tourists and deliver millions to city coffers. There are a few hurdles however. For example, the tribe doesn't own any land in Garden Grove. Is this a feasible plan or a fantasy? Roger Cooper looks at the grand plans.
CALIFORNIA'S FRAGILE INFRASTRUCTURE
The sudden collapse of the Minneapolis bridge is a stark reminder of the price of deferred maintenance. California is no exception. And it's not just bridges. Perhaps most precarious is our network of levees in the Central Valley. For years experts have warned that the century-old levees need reinforcing. Reporter Craig Miller looks at what's at stake.
FISHMAN OBIT
A look back at veteral anchor Hal Fishman when he appeard on Life & times in 2000.
FINDING GOD ON SALVATION MOUNTAIN
We continue our "Magical Mystery Tour of California" featuring the work of student reporters from News21, a summer program for advanced journalism students at USC's Annenberg School of Journalism. Today's report by Allison Louie looks at how a hot air balloon inspired an eccentric believer to build a personal monument to God in the desert.
A PAINFUL DRIVING LESSON
Trais Hand was street racing when he lost control of his car and killed a 38-year-old mother in a wheelchair. Now as part of his punishment he must warn other teens of the dangers. Roger Cooper goes to Riverside where street racing is a major problem and one young man learned his lesson the hard way.
HI-TECH BATTLE GEAR
Giving our troops in Iraq any kind of advantage can be a life-saver. Val Zavala looks at tiny cameras, vision clarifying systems and hands-free computer info being developed for the battlefield.
FACES OF NATIVE AMERICANS
From colonial drawings, to romantic paintings, to stunning photographic portraits, Hena Cuevas goes to the Huntington for a look at a beautiful exhibit surveying the evolution of Native American images through our history.
MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR: STOP #1
We begin a week of stories by student reporters from a program at USC's school of journalism. Young journalists capture the spiritual side of California in it's full range and glory, from established temples to eccentric individuals. Tonight we visit the Lakeshrine Temple of Self Realization Fellowship in Pacific Palisades.
RETAIL VILLAGES LOSING OUT TO CHAINS?
We all love the feel of quaint neighborhood shopping villages, like Leimert Park or Larchmont Village. But many of them are in danger of being taken over by chain stores. What's driving this trend? Can we do anything to stop it? Sam Louie has our story.
GETTY CHIEF JAMES WOOD
This week's historic agreement between the Getty and Italy resolves a an intense legal dispute over stolen antiquities. The Getty agreed to return 40 pieces, though it did not admit wrongdoing. The settlement comes six months after James Wood, a renowned art historian, assumes the post of CEO of the Getty Trust. Val Zavala talks with Woods about the kind of leadership he plans to bring to the world's richest art institution.
L.A. SHERIFF HISTORY
In the 1850s the murder rate in Los Angeles was 100 times the national average. Then the sheriff came to town. A new book Six Gun Sound, by Sheriff department sergeant Sven Crongeyer recounts the colorful tales L.A. County's first lawmen.
ONLINE PREDATORS
It's happened again. This time she's a 19-year-old teenage girl from Orange County missing since late June. She was last seen with a registered sex offender whom she met on the internet. How do we teach kids and parents that surfing for friends on the web can be dangerous? Sam Louie has our story.
THE CLEANEST STREET IN LOS ANGELES
It's only a couple blocks long in a modest neighborhood between the L.A. River and the 5 freeway. But it's the cleanest street in the city, after a $800,000 renovation. What kind of clean? Val Zavala talks with Larry Smith of North East Trees who explains.
FILMWEEK
Our movie critics size up Bourne Ultimatum and Becoming Jane, among other big screen offerings.
RELEASED WITHOUT AN APOLOGY
A $101 million payment to four convicts who were framed for murder and released, is the exception. In the vast majority of cases innocent inmates get nothing not even an apology. Saul Gonzalez looks at one organization that is helping the wrongly convicted get their lives started again.
REPORT CARD ON HEART SURGEONS
If you need coronary bypass surgery wouldn't you want to know how good your surgeon is? Well, now you can. It's part of a growing trend toward transparency in medical care. The latest report comes from the state of California and it ranks hospitals and doctors on mortality rates for bypass coronary surgery.
GARDENING ABOVE GROUND
You don't need a piece of earth to make the earth bloom. In fact one of the most innovative gardens is not even on ground level, as Rebecca Tolin from KPBS in San Diego found out.
GRIFFITH PARK RECOVERY CONFLICTS
Differing views are arising on how best to help Griffith Park recover from the blaze that blackened 800 acres. What will it mean for the Griffith Park master plan? For hikers? For this piece of nature in the middle of L.A.? Hena Cuevas reports.
"DIABESITY" AMONG CHILDREN
For the first time in two centuries life expectancy in the U.S. is going down. The culprit? Obesity that leads to type 2 diabetes. One third of children born in 2000 will have diabetes in their lifetime. Val Zavala talks with Dr. Francine Kaufman of Children's Hospital Los Angeles about this serious epidemic.
ART FROM A BOILER ROOM
He keeps a furnace running at 2000 degrees for a factory in Oxnard. But between the steam, the noise and the heat Dave Rivas has found beauty and he captures it through a camera. Filmmakers Josh Harman and Ryan Kohler document this working man artist. (see his work at rivasart.com)
POLICE AS IMMIGRATION AGENTS
Should local police help enforce federal immigration laws? The LAPD has a "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Other police departments – i.e. Maricopa County in Arizona – take a tougher approach. NewsHour correspondent Jeffrey Kaye looks at what can go right and wrong when police take on immigration duties.
PHILANTHROPY AND MINORITIES
Billions of dollars are given away every year to non-profits and charities doing good works. The money comes from foundations whose job it is to give away money. But some critics say the money is not being granted fairly, that too little goes to minority groups helping minorities. Our kitchen table conversationalists are Orson Aguilar from the Greenlining Institute, Manny Klausner from the Federalist Society, and Joe Hick of CommUnity Advocates.
THE SOUNDS OF STRING THEORY
Most musicians, from rock bands to chamber groups bring their instruments with them. But we found an unusual ensemble that builds their instrument at each location creating a unique sound for each performance. It is called String Theory. As Vicki Curry discovered the results are truly captive.
VOTING ON THE WAR
California voters may have a chance to say yea or nay on the war in Iraq. Democrats are working to get a measure on this February's ballot. But Republicans say that the Democrats have an ulterior motive. Hena Cuevas went to Sacramento to find out more about this war measure that could end up on the California ballot.
CAN WE TRUST IT WHEN IT SAYS "GREEN"?
More companies are jumping on the ecological bandwagon claiming that their products and services are ecologically sound. But how can you tell if they're telling the truth? Val Zavala talks with Arthur Weissman, president of Green Seal. If it has their seal of approval, it means something.
GARDEN BEAUTY THROUGH A LENS
If you're too busy to enjoy southern California's lush gardens, take heart. A master photographer has captured the beauty of trees, ponds, flowers, and cactus at Descanso Gardens in La Canada. Val Zavala meets Warren Marr whose patience has paid off in a book of stunning photographs called Descanso: An Urban Oasis Revealed.
EARLY ALZHEIMER'S
He just turned 50, but he already knows what lies ahead – Alzheimer's. How is he preparing for the inevitable? Especially when also has to take care of his 85-year-old mother. Hena Cuevas meets Richard Bozanich of Rancho Palos Verdes as he faces the challenges of early Alzheimer's.
SAVING FIREFIGHTERS' LIVES
How many firefighters' lives could have been saved on September 11 if they had known when the building was about to
collapse? That's the question that one professor is asking because burning buildings send out signals. But the question
is, can we detect them and detect them in time? As Kevin Smith tells us, the answers can only be found in fire itself.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle of KPCC and his movie critics give us their take on the latest summer movie offerings.
FREE WIRELESS SERVICE
The city of Riverside is getting a technological edge over other cities. It is launching free wireless internet service across the city. It hopes to lure businesses, save taxpayer money, and help students too. Will it pay off? Roger Cooper goes to Riverside to explore a growing trend.
ROLLING STOPS CAUGHT ON TAPE
We're all familiar with cameras at stop lights that catch drivers going through red lights. But now at some intersections in Santa Monica video cameras are catching drivers sliding past stop signs. Is this going too far? Toni Guinyard takes a close look a this new traffic tool.
DANCING IN PLACE
An unusual dance company doesn't need a stage to perform. It creates dances for every place from hotel lobbies to laundromats. Vicki Curry looks at the Collage Dance Theater headed by Artistic Director Heidi Duckler. (Go to collagedancetheater.org for info on this weekend's performance at the Redcat Theater.)
VICTIMS OF THE CHURCH
The L.A. Archdiocese of the Catholic Church has agreed to pay more than $600 million dollars to people who were abused by priests. But money is not enough to heal more than 500 victims. Toni Guinyard looks a their plight and meets one woman in Monrovia who is helping herself and others heal in a unique way.
A TRILLION DOLLARS IN REAL ESTATE
L.A. County has reached a milestone. The value of all the real estate in L.A. County – houses, businesses, apartments, universities, hospitals – has crossed the trillion dollar mark, driven by rising home prices. That's great for County coffers. But what happens now that the market is cooling? Val Zavala talks with the top tax man, Rick Auerbach, about your property tax dollars.
THE BEST TIME TO BE BLACK
USC writer and professor Todd Boyd says it was great growing up Black in the '70s. He calls it the richest, most vibrant period for Black culture ever. Saul Gonzalez talks with Boyd about his new book The Notorious Phd's Guide to the Super Fly '70s.
MANSIONS OR MONSTROSITIES?
They are called "McMansions" big new homes jammed on lots and crowding smaller homes in the neighborhood. Cities are now restricting the size of new homes. Is it enough? Sam Louie goes to the San Fernando Valley where building big is bugging neighbors.
EXHUMING BONES IN GUATEMALA
More than 125,000 Guatemalans live here in L.A. County. Most came here to escape the horror of their 36-year civil war. Many have loved ones who were executed or killed in massacres. Now thousands of bones of Guatemalans are being exhumed. Saul Gonzalez travels south to find out how and why.
FORGOTTEN CAMERA
Before the invention of optics, a camera obscura was simply a dark room with a tiny hole in one side. It acted as a lens to project an image of what's outside. Long forgotten, this camera obscura in Santa Monica is one of only two on the west coast. Writer Robert Grand wants to see it get the attention it deserves.
BIG BIRTHDAY BASH
It's a rite of passage in the Mexican-American community that girls look forward to for years. It is called a "quinceaρera," from the Spanish "quince" for fifteen. This 15th birthday bash is second only to weddings as L&T commentator Cris Franco explains.
MENTAL HEALTH TAX PAYING OFF?
It's a 1% tax on the wealthy to help the mentally ill in California. Now, three years later, the funds are beginning to flow. L.A. County is getting about $300 million. How is it being spent? Is it making a difference in the lives of people suffering from mental illness? Sam Louie looks at the benefits of Prop 63.
CONCIERGE MEDICINE
How much would you be willing to pay for great medical care, including seeing a doctor whenever you needed to? More people are willing to pay extra for the attention and convenience. It's a new trend called "concierge medicine." But is it for everyone? Toni Guinyard has our story.
OVARIAN CANCER SYMPTOMS
It's one of the more deadly forms of cancer among women ovarian cancer. Part of the problem is not being able to detect it early enough. Now a combination of common problems have been found to signal possible ovarian cancer. And women should start paying attention. Val Zavala talks with Dr. Beth Karlan of Cedar-Sinai's Women's Cancer Research Institute.
MEDICAL CARE FROM MUSLIMS
Poor neighborhoods have few doctors, and residents in poor areas rely on free clinics. But did you know that one of the few free clinics in south Los Angeles is run by a group that has been eyed with suspicion since 9-11? Hena Cuevas reports.
CONSUMER GAS RIP OFF?
Did you know that in hot weather gasoline at the pump expands? You may not being getting a full gallon even though you're paying for it. In Canada they make adjustments for "hot gas." Should gas stations here do the same? Sam Louie looks at both side of the hot gas debate.
WALL STREET INTEGRITY
Cris Cox is Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission which is responsible for monitoring Wall Street and public corporations. The SEC has been accused of leaning towards corporate interests. Cox says not so, "If a business is investor-friendly, the SEC will be friendly to it." Val Zavala talks with Cox about keeping Wall Street honest.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Film critics size up the latest offerings in theaters.
CHANGING FACE OF THE POOR
Being poor isn't what it used to be. The federal government says 11% of Californians live in poverty. Critics say it is actually 30%. A major push is on to update the way the government defines poverty. And as Toni Guinyard found out, poor people these days don't fit the typical picture.
FACING GENOCIDE IN DARFUR
A former marine has taken thousands of photos that the government of Sudan does not want people to see. He has documented murder, plunder and massacres. And he's written a book. Val Zavala talks with author and photographer, Brian Steidle, about his book The Devil Came on Horseback.
UP UP AND AWAY
A giant helium balloon is the central attraction in Orange County's Great Park. Passengers can get free rides from now through January. What's the view of the still-developing park from 500 feet up? You can see for yourself. Go along with O.C. reporter Roger Cooper.
IS YOUR GYM EQUIPPED FOR A HEART ATTACK?
Every year 250,000 Americans die of cardiac arrest. It often happens when people are exercising. Now a new law requires a live-saving piece of equipment in every gym and health club in the state. But are they complying? Roger cooper has our story.
WHY HASN'T IT HAPPENED AGAIN?
The recent terrorist incidents in Britain has that country and the U.S. on higher alert. But we can't help but wonder why another terrorist attack hasn't happened since 9-11? Val Zavala talks with foremost terrorism expert, Brian Jenkins, of the Rand Institute who has an insightful analysis.
A GARDEN OF SCULPTURE FROM LATIN AMERICA
It's a large and beautiful collection of sculpture from Latin American artists. We visit the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach whose new wing has just opened for a look at their entrancing sculpture garden. (molaa.org)
SOLAR ENERGY
California is about to take a giant leap towards solar power. The two largest solar plants in the world are being built in Southern California, with a new generation of solar technology. This renewable energy is coming on line, along with climate change. Roger Cooper reports.
I'LL TAKE AN M.R.I. AND TWO BLOOD TESTS
Fast food restaurants do it. Car dealers do it. So why not doctors? Why shouldn't patients be able to peruse the cost of everything from cancer screenings to vaccinations? Now they can. Toni Guinyard talks with Dr. Robert Blackman of Healthcare Partners Medical Group who is posting prices for it patients.
DANCE REDEFINED
Diavolo dancers defy the traditional bounds of dance by combining acrobatics and dance for an amazing visual performance. Vicki Curry talks with artistic director and founder Jacques Heim about this unique Los Angeles dance company.
A SHORTCUT TO THE RIGHT ANTIDEPRESSANT
19 million Americans suffer from depression. One of the biggest challenges is finding the right medication for each patient. The trial and error process can be long and costly. Now a new tool promises to identify the right antidepressant within a matter of weeks. Hena Cuevas talks with Dr. Andy Leuchter at UCLA.
GANGSTA RAP: INFLUENCE OR ENTERTAINMENT?
Do the lewd and violent lyrics in gangsta rap really have an impact on young people in gang neighborhoods? Or are they just entertainment? Our kitchen table guests this week are David Lehrer and Joe Hicks of CommUnity Advocates and Davey D., a hip hop historian, journalist and community activist.
GETTY GOATS
Need your brush cleared? Take a cue from the Getty Center on the hill in Brentwood. They've turned to a profession from centuries past to handle our 21st century fire hazard.
COMFORT FOR FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN
California has lost more troops in Iraq than any other state. We found a woman who is using her talents to ease the pain of families who have lost loved ones. Val Zavala meets Leonore Rae Smith, a painter in Pacific Palisades with a remarkable talent for easing grief.
SPAY AND NEUTER DEBATE
Should dog and cat owners be required by law to spay or neuter their pets? Animal officials say it's the way to avoid euthanizing 1000's of animals. But some, including breeders, say it's a bad idea. Hena Cuevas reports.
NIXON LIBRARY JOINS FEDERAL SYSTEM
It's official. Yesterday the Richard Nixon Library and Museum joined 11 other presidential libraries in the federal system. They now span presidencies from Herbert Hoover to William Jefferson Clinton. But does the Nixon Library present a true picture of this tainted presidency? Or a flattering image of our 37th president? Orange County reporter Roger Cooper visits the Nixon Library and Museum in Yorba Linda to find out.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle from KPCC and his movie-watchers take stock of the latest film releases.
GOODBYE TO SKID ROW
A once-homeless woman and her daughter are saying goodbye to a shelter near skid row and heading to the suburbs. But her new home a shelter in Sylmar for more than 200 women and children almost didn't open when local residents launched a fight against it. Sam Louie has the story of Hope Gardens.
DON'T BUY AN AIR CONDITIONER UNTIL...
Notice to consumers: Starting in 2010 a new law is changing the kind of refrigerant used in air conditioners. So don't buy a new air conditioner unless it can use the new refrigerant. Val Zavala gets details from an air conditioner distributor. (info at greenerhomeair.com)
TEENAGE DIARIES RE-OPENED
Before there was myspace there were diaries. Cris Franco has discovered that those diaries brimming with adolescent angst are the hippest form of entertainment and self-mortification. He takes us to a place where adults bare all about their teen pasts.
AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER?
Will news of the romantic relationship between L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Telemundo reporter Mirthala Salinas be one that voters remember? When does a politician's private life become a public issue? How did the Daily News uncover the story, and why did it decide to break the news when it did? Toni Guinyard talks to Beth Barrett of the Daily News about the recent revelations.
BEYOND "SICKO"
A doctor who helped start one of the country's first managed care practices says "Sicko" didn't go far enough. He is predicting that health insurance companies will go out of business and a single-payer system is inevitable. Val Zavala talks with health care reformer, Dr. Robert Gumbiner, author of "Curing Our Sick Health Care System."
80 YEARS OF HISTORY
Have you ever noticed that old tall building near downtown L.A. called "Patriotic Hall"? Ever wonder what was inside? Vicki Curry goes inside with former Marine Jay Morales and discovers decades of history, documents and memorabilia. But what will a renovation mean for this storehouse of history?
MUSLIM-JEWISH TENSIONS ON CAMPUS
For the past several years tensions have been rising between Muslim and Jewish students at U.C. Irvine. It started in 2003 when a Holocaust memorial was vandalized. O.C. reporter Roger Cooper goes to U.C. Irvine to find out why the characteristic tolerance at college campuses is not in play here.
DRY TIMES AHEAD
Don't plant more lawn. A climate expert is predicting a serious drought. Hena Cuevas talks with JPL climatologist Bill Patzert who says this long-term trend could effect the entire southwest.
WHITE WATER DANGER
It's inviting and exciting. But it can also be fatal. Every year the Kern River north of Bakersfield claims drowning victims. Why are most of them from L.A. County? Paul Vercammon reports.
A MARRIED PRIEST
Since the 4th century, Catholic priests have had to take a vow of celibacy. So how is it that a priest in Camarillo is married? Does this mean the Catholic Church is loosening its policy on celibacy? Sam Louie has the story of Father Lowe and his wife Linda.
LATINOS AND DRUNK DRIVING
Drunk driving is a more serious problem among Mexican-Americans than other ethnic groups. Is it because drunk driving laws are more lax in Mexico? Is it machismo? Or is it the fault of American beer companies bombarding Mexican immigrants with ads? At our kitchen table is April Snook with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Henrik Rehbinder with La Opinion newspaper, and David Lehrer with CommUnity Advocates.
PLACIDO DOMINGO EXPLORES HIS ROOTS
He didn't start with opera. Placido Domingo's spectacular voice was first heard singing "Zarzuela", a kind of musical theater from Spain. Now he brings a Zarzuela that is close to his heart to the Los Angeles stage. Val Zavala talks with Domingo about how the production of "Luisa Fernanda" impacted his life.
STREET RACER'S PAINFUL LESSON
Trais Hand was street racing when he lost control of his car and killed 38-year-old mother in a wheelchair. Now as part of his punishment he must warn other teens of the dangers. Roger Cooper goes to Riverside where street racing is a major problem and one young man learned his lesson the hard way.
HI-TECH BATTLE GEAR
Giving our troops in Iraq any kind of advantage can be a life-saver. Val Zavala looks at tiny cameras, vision clarifying systems and hands-free computer info being developed for the battlefield.
FACES OF NATIVE AMERICANS
From colonial drawings, to romantic paintings, to stunning photographic portraits, Hena Cuevas goes to the Huntington for a look at a beautiful exhibit surveying the evolution of Native American images through our history.
INTERFAITH MARRIAGE
Does marrying outside your religion create inclusiveness? Or dilute one's religious practice? Saul Gonzalez looks at the growing number of inter-faith marriages between Christians and Jews, and talks to some Jews who are concerned about the trend.
COSMETIC SURGERY FOR IRAQ VETS
Hollywood celebrities get the star treatment from cosmetic surgeons. Now hundreds of Iraq war vets are coming home disfigured. Meet a Rancho Mirage nurse who believes our vets should be treated like starts too. Sheryl Kahn reports.
PUDDLE PARK
It's a child's dream. Orange County Roger Cooper takes us to a park where kids are encouraged to get dirty, make a mess, and play in the mud!
JOSE CAN YOU SEE?
Life & Times commentator, Cris Franco, gives us his hilarious take on our national anthem complete with a historical re-enactment with help from performing arts students. Our anthem may be hard to sing, but as Cris points out, it has a lot of other things going for it.
SHOULD THIS HIGH SCHOOL BE CLOSED?
What matters most? Test scores, or sending seniors to college? At a high school in Pacoima that's the quandary facing school officials who have to decide whether to renew its charter. Sam Louie looks at how a school with low test scores can send so many students to college, and what will happen to Discovery Prep.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH INMATES
The number of inmates in California's prisons has reached a record 170,000. But what about the thousands of women with husbands or boyfriends behind bars? Bridget Kinsella, a college graduate and author of Visiting Life, was one of them. Val Zavala talks with her about how she fell in love with a murderer doing life in Pelican Bay.
MUSIC MAN MURRAY
Some people can't leave home without their iPods. But one man keeps music alive the old fashioned way on vinyl. He's got a record collection that would rival a dozen iPods. Toni Guinyard pays a visit to Murray Gershenz, also known as "Music Man Murray."
BOYS OF CRENSHAW HIGH
What ever happened to an exceptional group of athletes from Crenshaw High School? Baseball was their ticket out and it made one of them a superstar, but even Darryl Strawberry fell victim to the life that he and his Crenshaw teammates once seemed destined to leave behind. Toni Guinyard takes us back to the place where it all began when the Boys of Crenshaw High were kings.
KT: BLACKS AND BASEBALL
Just 9% of major league baseball players are African-Americans, a far cry from the mid-1970s when the percentage was three times as much. Why the dramatic decline? David Lehrer of CommUnity Advocates moderates our Kitchen Table discussion between Darrell Miller, a former MLB player and Steve Mason from 710 ESPN Sports Talk.
COLD WAR REMEMBERED
No one mourns the end of the Cold War, but that doesn't mean it should be forgotten. Now one of the largest collections of Cold War artifacts are coming together at the Wende Museum in Culver City. "Wende" is German means "change" — as in the fall of Communism. Saul Gonzalez goes inside for a look at our recent history.
DANGEROUS VIRUS
It's a strange and potentially paralyzing virus that lives in the soil in the San Joaquin Valley around Bakersfield. Doctors are perplexed at what's been dubbed "Valley fever." Sam Louie met one victim who thought he had a typical flu only to find himself in a wheelchair, possibly for life.
DENTAL DILEMMA
Many children have a mouth-full of cavities because their parents believe you dont have to take care of baby teeth since theyre going to fall out anyway. But poor dental health in children can have serious medical consequences. Hena Cuevas has the story of one little girl whose teeth delayed urgent medical treatment.
STORIES OF A LIFETIME
They've lived full lives and have wonderful stories to tell. But how do you shape experiences into ten-minute memorizing monologs? That's where professional storyteller Barbara Clark comes in. Toni Guinyard goes to Vineyard Recreation Center in midtown L.A. for the final performances of this senior citizen story telling class.
Life & Times was pre-empted in order to bring you the All-American Presidential Forums on PBS, moderated by Tavis Smiley from the campus of Howard University in Washington D.C.
CUTTING PORT POLLUTION
It's the biggest single source of pollution in the Los Angeles area. But now port officials are determined to cut pollution in half, and they're telling cargo companies, terminal operators and truckers to go green. Saul Gonzalez looks at how officials plan to motivate companies to reduce the toxic brew of contaminants.
PHILANTHROPY AND MINORITIES
Billions of dollars are given away every year to non-profits and charities doing good works. The money comes from foundations whose job it is to give away money. But some critics say the money is not being granted fairly, that too little goes to minority groups helping minorities. This week's kitchen table conversation looks at whether more dollars should be diverted to minority-run non-profits.
THE SOUNDS OF STRING THEORY
Most musicians, from rock bands to chamber groups bring their instruments with them. But we found an unusual ensemble that builds their instrument at each location creating a unique sound for each performance. It is called String Theory. As Vicki Curry discovered the results are truly captivating.
VOTING ON THE IRAQ WAR
Californians may have the chance to vote on a measure calling for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Democrats are working to get the non-binding measure on the February ballot. But Republicans say Democrats have an ulterior motive. Hena Cuevas went to Sacramento to find out more.
IS THAT CLEANER REALLY ECO-FRIENDLY?
More corporations and manufacturers are touting their ecological consciousness. But can you trust what they say about their own products? Enter "Green Seal", a non-profit independent organization that evaluates products, giving the best their "green seal" of approval. Val Zavala talks with Arthur Weissman, President of Green Seal. (info at greenseal.org)
DESCANSO BEAUTY REVEALED
It's a botanical gem in La Canada, one of southern California's oldest and most beautiful gardens. Now the peace of Descanso Gardens is captured in a book by master photographer Warren Marr. His panoramic images are the second best way to "step into" this 130 acre natural refuge.
EMPTY LOTS, EMPTY PROMISES
Community leaders in south L.A. want businesses to build on vacant lots, and help keep liquor stores from moving in. But sometimes the problem lies with city government. Toni Guinyard looks at local leaders who are putting L.A.'s new planning chief on the hot seat.
THE POLITICS OF DOCUMENTARIES
Who would guess that a power point presentation on global warming would win an Oscar. An Inconvenient Truth along with other politically charged documentaries, are impacting public policy. Is this a good thing? Our kitchen table conversationalists are commentator Jim Hirsen, USC cultural historian Leo Braudy, and David Lehrer of CommUnity Advocates.
BODY COOLER
Stanford researchers have found a way to cool the body down in record time. The device can be a lifesaver for soldiers, and a performance enhancer for athletes. But Sam Louie also found that it helps people with serious diseases live more normal lives.
HONEY BEES DISAPPEARING
It's a bizarre and disturbing mystery. Millions of honey bees are disappearing in the U.S. and Europe. They leave the hives without a trace, creating serious problems for farming. Reporter Spencer Michels take a close look at this strange phenomenon. (And by the way... Einstein experts at Caltech say that the quote "If the bee disappears off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left" was probably NOT said by Albert Einstein. They can find no record of him saying that.)
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION - WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
Several Catholic churches in southern California are getting ready to offer political sanctuary to some immigrant families in danger of deportation. They are testing a law that says churches cannot harbor criminals. Can they invoke a higher law? At our kitchen table this week are Rabbi Steven Jacobs, Lupe Moreno of Latino Americans for Immigration Reform, and Joe Hicks of Community Advocates.
CLIMB ABOARD NOAH'S ARK
This amazing walk-through rendition of Noah's Ark is opening soon at the Skirball Cultural Center. Children will be enthralled as they explore, climb and discover what it takes to survive in an ark, not unlike our diverse and challenging world. Val Zavala gets a tour of this marvelous menagerie from Skirball CEO, Uri Hersher. (Opens to the public June 26th. Info at skirball.org)
MOVING TOWARD CITYHOOD
East L.A. is moving closer toward cityhood. Right now its an unincorporated area of about 140,000 people. Community leaders are gathering financial data to see if East L.A. can stand on its own financial feet. This isn't the first time East L.A. has tried to become a city. Why is it so important? Hena Cuevas looks at what's behind this craving for cityhood.
IMMIGRATION BILL CRITIC
President Bush is determined to get an immigration bill passed in Congress this year. That's a key reason why the bill came back from the brink of failure. Last week we heard from a supporter. Now we hear from the other side, a critic of immigration reform. Val Zavala talks with Joseph Turner, Western Regional Representative for FAIR (Federation for American Immigration Reform).
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle of KPCC and his film critics size up your movie options.
"YOU'RE UNDER ARREST. ARE YOU AN AMERICAN CITIZEN?"
Should local police help enforce federal immigration laws? The LAPD has a "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Other police departments i.e. Phoenix take a tougher approach. NewsHour correspondent Jeffrey Kaye looks at how different cities deal with criminals and suspects who may be undocumented.
THE RACE FACTOR
A Latino candidate is running for a Congressional seat long held by Blacks. Tension is mounting in the district that includes Compton, which has become increasing Latino. How much will race be factor in the campaign for the 37th District? Should it make any difference? Our kitchen table guests are Joe Hicks of CommUnity Advocates, Earl Ofari Hutchinson of the L.A. Urban Roundtable, and Ph.D. Mara Marks from Loyola Marymount's Urban Studies department.
CSI FOR BIRDS
It's a little-known but fascinating institute in Camarillo where scientists are trying to save rare and endangered birds. They are doing so by examining DNA from as long as four hundred years ago. As Paul Vercammen tells us, it's an attempt to ensure the future of hundreds of birds by delving into their past.
MENTAL HEALTH TAX PAYING OFF?
It's a 1% tax on the wealthy to help the mentally ill in California. Now, three years later, the funds are beginning to flow. L.A. County is getting about $300 million. How is it being spent? Is it making a difference in the lives of people suffering from mental illness? Sam Louie looks at the benefits of Prop 63.
CONCIERGE MEDICINE
How much would you be willing to pay for great medical care, including seeing a doctor whenever you needed to? More people are willing to pay extra for the attention and convenience. It's a new trend called "concierge medicine." But is it for everyone? Toni Guinyard has our story.
OVARIAN CANCER SYMPTOMS
It's one of the more deadly forms of cancer among women ovarian cancer. Part of the problem is not being able to detect it early enough. Now a combination of common problems have been found to signal possible ovarian cancer. And woman should start paying attention. Val Zavala talks with Dr. Beth Karlan of Cedar-Sinai's Women's Cancer Research Institute.
MEDICAL CARE FROM MUSLIMS
Poor neighborhoods have few doctors, and residents in poor areas rely on free clinics. But did you know that one of the few free clinics in south Los Angeles is run by a group that has been eyed with suspicion since 9-11? Hena Cuevas reports.
SANCTUARY UNDER CHURCH ROOFS
La Placita and several other Catholic churches in Los Angeles have launched a sanctuary movement to provide safe haven for families threatened with deportation. Do they have the right to defy federal law? Toni Guinyard meets one of the people the church hopes to offer sanctuary.
IS THE NAACP STILL RELEVANT?
Has the Civil Right movement of the '60s successfully completed its mission? Are current-day Black leaders out of touch with today's African-American community? For a lively conversation at our kitchen table we hear from commentator Jasmine Cannick and libertarian Tom Phillips, with Joe Hicks of CommUnity Advocates, Inc.
A SECOND LOOK AT THE "FOURTH GREAT ONE"
Mexican painter Rufino Tamayo was once called "the fourth great one" following muralists Rivera, Siqueiros and Orozco. But now a major exhibit at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art challenges that description. Tamayo was criticized for departing from the Mexican tradition of putting politics into his art. Could that be the reason his art seems even more relevant today? Val Zavala talks with curator Diane Dupont.
ONE-WAY TRAFFIC SOLUTION?
L.A. is considering turning two main streets Pico and Olympic into one-way boulevards. Experts say it would speed up cross-town traffic. But would the improvement be worth the cost and the hassle? Groups in Koreatown are especially concerned about the impact on business. Hena Cuevas looks at the pros and cons of one-ways.
EXTREME SCHOOL MAKEOVER
A principal at a Canoga Park continuation school insists he can take the toughest schools in L.A. and straighten them out in 30 days. He uses 10 hard-and-fast rules based on personal integrity, like "we show up," "we work," "we care," and "we live clean and sober." Paul White has attracted the attention of a TV producer. Is his claim just bluster or for real? Val Zavala takes a look for herself.
CHILDREN OF SLAM
Slam poetry, urban poetry or spoken word performances are giving poetry new life. Vicki Curry talks with Ratpack Slim, a poet who has also produced a show called "Children of Slam." (check out kcet.org for excerpt of poets' works.)
IN CASE OF NUCLEAR ATTACK
A nuclear attack on southern California is hard to imagine. Some people are paid to imagine it, and to come up with a response. But as Toni Guinyard found out, just figuring out who should be in charge is a challenge.
IMMIGRATION BILL: A TOUGH BATTLE
Once again an immigration reform bill has died in Congress. But some still think it can be revived. Vicki Curry talks with UCLA associate professor of Chicano studies, Raul Hinojosa Ojeda about the ramifications of immigration reform should it make it through the political maze.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Even Raisinettes can't make up for a bad flick. Larry Mantle and his movie critics steer us in the right direction.
A SHORTCUT TO THE RIGHT ANTIDEPRESSANT
19 million Americans suffer from depression. One of the biggest challenges is finding the right medication for each patient. The trial and error process can be long, costly and, well depressing. But now a new tool promises a shortcut to finding the right antidepressant. Hena Cuevas talks with Dr. Andy Leuchter at UCLA.
GANGSTA RAP: INFLUENCE OR ENTERTAINMENT?
Do the lewd and violent lyrics in gangsta rap really have an impact on young people in gang neighborhoods? Or are they just entertainment? Our kitchen table guests this week are David Lehrer and Joe Hicks of Community Advocates and Davey D., a hip hop historian, journalist and community activist.
GETTY GOATS
Need your brush cleared? Take a cue from the Getty Center on the hill in Brentwood. They've turned to a profession from centuries past to handle our 21st century fire hazard.
COMFORT FOR FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN
How do families who have lost a son or daughter in Iraq cope with the terrible news? Is there a way to ease their grief? Yes there is. An artist in Pacific Palisades has found it. Val Zavala visits a remarkable painter, Leonore Rae Smith.
SOLAR ENERGY
California is about to take a giant leap towards solar power. The two largest solar plants in the world are being built in Southern California, with a new generation of solar technology. This renewable energy is coming on line, along with climate change. Roger Cooper reports.
I'LL TAKE AN M.R.I. AND TWO BLOOD TESTS
Fast food restaurants do it. Car dealers do it. So why not doctors? Why shouldn't patients be able to peruse the cost of everything from cancer screenings to vaccinations? Now they can. Toni Guinyard talks with Dr. Robert Blackman of Healthcare Partners Medical Group who is posting prices for it patients.
NO STARVING ARTISTS HERE
Parents need not dread the words "Mom, Dad, I want to be an artist." At Otis College of Art & Design students blend creativity with practicality. Val Zavala gets a tour of everything from fashion to toy design from Otis president, Sammy Hoi.
FACING FORECLOSURE
Home foreclosures in California are up 170% from last year. It's the fallout from subprime and adjustable rate mortgages that over-burden homebuyers. Are they victims of lenders? Or victims of their own naivete? Sam Louie meets one woman who is losing her piece of the American dream.
AIR FORCE CADETS FOR CHRIST?
Cadets 'encouraged' to see The Passion of the Christ is just one example of how proselytizing in the military pressures recruits to convert to fundamental Christianity. Val Zavala talks with Air Force Academy graduate and attorney, Michael Weinstein, author of With God on Our Side.
DISNEYLAND THROUGH THE DECADES
The #1 tourist destination in Southern California is Disneyland. But for local boy Cris Franco it was a family tradition, and he has four decades of photos, fun and quirky memories to prove it.
SOLUTION FOR THE HOMELESS: RIVER SIDE LIVING?
Does Ventura have an answer to the homeless problem? A tent city near a river is run by the homeless themselves. But even nature may have her limits. Hena Cuevas visits "River Haven", a refuge for people who would otherwise be on Ventura's streets. Could it work other cities?
SWEEPS OR SERVICES FOR L.A.'S HOMELESS?
Our kitchen table debaters take on the controversy over the crackdown on skid row. Are police enforcing the law? Or just clearing out the homeless for downtown's new upscale residents? L.A.P.D. Captain Andrew Smith faces off against homeless advocate, Bob Erlenbush.
A BEAUTIFUL NOISE
It's a cacophony of musical sounds. The noisy discovery of orchestra instruments by youngsters who have never held, much less played a tuba, violin, oboe or cello. Val Zavala follows the Music Mobile to Willard elementary school in Pasadena where 3rd graders become a budding orchestra in less than an hour.
MUSLIM-JEWISH TENSIONS AT U.C. IRVINE
For the past several years tensions have been rising between Muslim and Jewish students at U.C. Irvine. It started in 2003 when a Holocaust memorial was vandalized. Since then other incidents have made matters worse. O.C. reporter Roger Cooper goes to U.C. Irvine to find out why the characteristic tolerance at college campuses is not in play here.
DRY TIMES AHEAD
Don't plant more lawn. A climate expert at the Jet Propulsion Lab in La Canada is predicting a serious drought. Hena Cuevas talks with climatologist Bill Patzert who says this long-term trend could effect the entire southwest.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle of KPCC and his film critics size up your movie options.
A MARRIED PRIEST
Since the 4th Century, Catholic priests have had to take a vow of celibacy. Catholic priests have had to take a vow of celibacy. So how is it that a priest in Camarillo is married? Does this mean the Catholic Church is loosening its policy on celibacy? Sam Louie has the story of Father Lowe and his wife Linda.
LATINOS AND DRUNK DRIVING
Drunk driving is a more serious problem among Mexican-Americans than other ethnic groups. Is it because drunk driving laws are more lax in Mexico? Is it machismo? Or is it the fault of American beer companies targeting Mexican immigrants with ads? At our kitchen table this week is April Snook with Mothers Against Drunk Driving., Henrik Rehbinder with La Opinion newspaper, and David Lehrer with Community Advocates.
PLACIDO DOMINGO EXPLORES HIS ROOTS
He didn't start with opera. Placido Domingo's spectacular voice was first heard singing "Zarzuela", a kind of musical theater from Spain. Now he brings a Zarzuela that is close to his heart to the Los Angeles stage. Val Zavala talks with Domingo about how the production of "Luisa Fernanda" impacted his life. ("Luisa Fernanda" runs thru June 16th at the Music Center.)
MTA FARE HIKE
When it comes to public transportation some people want it all. But officials say it would cost billions and that means dramatic hikes in bus fares. Are higher fares fair? Toni Guinyard looks at the tough transit choices we have to make.
JUVENILE "JUSTICE BY GEOGRAPHY"
Should punishment for a crime depend on where you live? That's what's happening to juvenile offenders in California as revealed in an investigative report by the O.C. Register. If a minor commits a serious crime he/she is more likely to be given a long sentence in Orange County. Why? Roger Cooper talked with investigative reporter Jenifer McKim. (ocregister.org/investigations)
MUSIC PATRON WITH UNUSUAL TASTE
It's not often you'll encounter an 86-year-old patron of the arts who supports contemporary music. But then Betty Freeman is not your typical music lover. Vicki Curry talks with Freeman, a supporter of the upcoming Ojai Music festival. (ojaifestival.org)
WETLANDS RENEWED
For the first time in a 100 years, ocean water is flowing into the Bolsa Chica wetlands in Huntington Beach. Environmentalists cheered at the success of the historic project. But as Roger Cooper tells us, a last-minute setback dampened the celebration.
BRANCHING OUT
When's the last time you climbed a tree? Meet professional climber Nick Araya, a nature lover who has lifted tree climbing onto a whole new level.
NEWEST MEMBERS OF AN ENDANGERED SPECIES
Two snow leopards, the first born at the Los Angeles Zoo in 22 years are reason to celebrate. Meet "Tom and Gerry", two cubs cute enough to charm the spots off a leopard.
CHINESE GARDEN TAKING SHAPE
It will be the largest classical Chinese garden outside of China. It is only half-built, but the Huntington Gardens in San Marino are letting visitors take a sneak preview. You can tell even now this $15 million dollar garden is going to be extraordinary.
SAM MALOOF'S MAGIC
He is not your ordinary woodworker. He is a master. Among Sam Maloof's clients are U.S. Presidents. His rocking chairs sell for as much as $50,000. That even surprises Maloof who says, "It makes me sort of shake my head." He's had no formal training but shares his knowledge with U.C. Riverside extension students. His home is a landmark open to the public and just as exquisite as his furniture. Toni Guinyard takes us inside the workshop and world of Sam Maloof to see how this 90-year old master does his magic.
AMAZING MATH-A-MAGICIAN
He is a human calculator, able to solve quadratic equations in a single bound. But the mind-boggling talents of this Harvey Mudd math professor are most visible in a magic show that inspires kids to explore the magic of numbers themselves.
ARMENIAN DANCE MASTER
How do you preserve the culture of people after a 20th century diaspora? It isn't easy. But we found one man who is doing it with a passion. He is Tom Bogizian, a dancer, choreographer, linguist, scholar and musician. As Vicki Curry tells us Glendale and Armenian folk dance wouldn't be the same without him.
COPS ON THE ANIMAL BEAT
For the first time Los Angeles police officers are hitting the streets to investigate cases of animal cruelty. Should they be rescuing animals? Or catching criminals? Detectives say the same people who abuse animals often progress to other crimes. But is it worth diverting police from other needs? Hena Cuevas has the story.
SEA LIONS
There's a crime wave in Newport Beach, perpetrated by slippery characters who have been known to attack swimmers, damage property and raid fishing boats. And on top of it all they're protected by federal law. Orange County reporter Roger Cooper looks at the unusual tactics officials are using to discourage a congregation of pesky sea lions.
CRITTER CAM
Tired of being a human? How about an armadillo? Wolf? Tarantula? Video artist, Sam Easterson, brings us a cross-species experience by attaching cameras on everything from turkeys to buffalo. And the results are funny, intriguing and unpredictable.
BOYS OF CRENSHAW HIGH
What ever happened to an exceptional group of athletes from Crenshaw High School? Baseball was their ticket out and it made one of them a superstar, but even Darryl Strawberry fell victim to the life that he and his Crenshaw teammates once seemed destined to leave behind. Toni Guinyard takes us back to the place where it all began when the Boys of Crenshaw High were kings.
KT: BLACKS AND BASEBALL
Just 9% of major league baseball players are African-Americans, a far cry from the mid-1970s when the percentage was three times as much. Why the dramatic decline? David Lehrer of CommUnity Advocates moderates our Kitchen Table discussion between Darrell Miller, a former MLB player and Steve Mason from 710 ESPN Sports Talk.
HAROLD ARLEN
His song "Over The Rainbow" was named Song of the Century. Vicki Curry spoke with the son of the most famous American composer you've never heard of.
GROWING UP ON SKID ROW
It's a dangerous place that few adults would venture into. But skid row is nonetheless home to too many children. What is like growing up on skid row like? A 13-year-old boy has made a remarkable documentary called We're not Bad Kids. As Toni Guinyard tells us it started when he witnessed a murder.
COOKING YOUR WAY UP
She's from a poor home in the Bay Area. But now she's on her way to becoming a top chef. More and more young people are discovering that fine food can get them out of rough neighborhoods. Toni Guinyard met a young woman whose talent in the kitchen is changing her future.
CRIS FRANCO GOES TO THE SCIENCE FAIR
Heading to a science fair is one way to renew your faith in young people. Life & Times commentator, Cris Franco, meets some funny, talkative and very smart kids who try to help him make up for the biology class he flunked.
THE MOST PERSONAL SACRIFICE
The city of Hemet in Riverside County has lost more residents per capita than any other town in California. We meet two families whose sons were killed in Iraq. How have they dealt with the loss? How has it impact their lives, and their views on the war? Toni Guinyard has our story.
WAR WEIGHS HEAVILY ON HEMET, CALIFORNIA
In Hemet, three young residents have been killed in action in Iraq this year alone. Nine overall, five from one local high school. Hemet is also home to a large number of veterans. Toni Guinyard met with members of the local VFW post who bring the perspective of past conflicts to the war in Iraq and is impact on their community.
A WIFE STEPS IN WHEN THE MILITARY STEPS OUT
A wife and mother at Camp Pendleton felt her injured husband was abandoned by the system. He was shot in the eye while in Iraq. Part of his brain was removed, along with 1/4 of his skull. He has memory problems and is nearly blind. So Tonia Sargent stepped in as his physical therapist. Hena Cuevas tells the story of one remarkable woman who is on a crusade to improve care for Iraqi war vets.
I.D. CARDS FOR POT USERS?
The newest government I.D. cards may be for people who are legally allowed to smoke marijuana. O.C. Supervisors voted to regulate medical marijuana, which would include I.D.s for AIDS and cancer patients. Reporter Roger Cooper recounts how the battle over medical marijuana started 11 years ago when California voters passed prop 215.
KEN BURNS ON "THE WAR"
A major PBS documentary on WWII by Ken Burns has been criticized by Latino groups for ignoring the Mexican-American experience. Val Zavala talks with Burns about how he approached the making of this 14-hour documentary which premieres in September. (Interview taped before Latino controversy.)
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT HOME CRUMBLING
Los Angeles could be on the verge of losing a rare treasure from the past. Saul Gonzalez takes us the hills of Los Feliz where a Frank Lloyd Wright home could be slip-sliding away, unless something is done fast.
WHO OWNS CELEBRITY PHOTOS?
Some bloggers are intercepting digitized photos of stars and putting them on popular websites. These are photos taken by paparazzi for a celebrity photo company. Who owns these photos that can make people rick? Hena Cuevas looks at a high-stakes legal showdown in the wild west of the web.
NEW LEADERSHIP AT THE GETTY
After a year of brutal investigative reports revealing excessive spending and luxurious perks, the Getty is getting new leadership. Can he transform its reputation? What plans does he have for future of this preeminent art institution? Val Zavala talks with James Wood, the new President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and his film critics review Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Bug and Angel-A.
FROM YOUR LAWN TO THE OCEAN
Even green-minded homeowners may not realize how watering their lawns can hurt the ocean. Millions of gallons of water loaded with fertilizers and pesticides end up in our oceans. But the city of Newport Beach has a satellite-controlled solution. And it's free to homeowners. Orange County reporter Roger Cooper explains how it works for lawns and our ocean.
NEW L.A. SCHOOL BOARD: REFORM AT LAST?
Two new board members. A mayor with more influence. A new school's chief. Could this finally be the time for turn around at the LAUSD? That's the topic at this week's kitchen table with newly-elected Tamar Galatzan, Board President Marlene Canter and David Lehrer of CommUnity Advocates.
ONE-MAN WINERY
Ever fantasize about owning your own winery and making your own wine? Well now you can skip the first part and go right to the second. Val Zavala met one wine "negotiant" who makes his own label without ever picking a grape.
DANGEROUS VIRUS
It's a strange and potentially paralyzing virus that lives in the soil in the San Joaquin Valley around Bakersfield. Doctors are perplexed at what's been dubbed "Valley fever." Sam Louie met one victim who thought he had a typical flu only to find himself in a wheelchair, possibly for life.
DENTAL DILEMMA
Many children have a mouth-full of cavities because their parents believe you dont have to take care of baby teeth since they're going to fall out anyway. But poor dental health in children can have serious medical consequences. Hena Cuevas has the story of one little girl whose teeth delayed urgent medical treatment.
CLIMB ABOARD NOAH'S ARK
This amazing walk-through rendition of Noah's Ark is opening soon at the Skirball Cultural Center. Children will be enthralled as they explore, climb and discover what it takes to survive in an ark, not unlike our diverse and challenging world. Val Zavala gets a tour of this marvelous menagerie from Skirball CEO, Uri Hersher. (Opens to the public June 26th. Info at skirball.org)
TURNING 18 IN FOSTER CARE
For teenagers in Foster Care turning 18 can be frightening. Many end up living on the streets. And there are too few places that help them. Hena Cuevas found one place called Rosemary's Children's Services in Pasadena, and met a young woman facing life as an adult.
L.A. TEACHER'S UNION: PROBLEM OR SOLUTION?
Some say that the teachers union is too powerful, that it blocks reforms and puts teacher benefits before students. Union leaders say teachers are the best advocates for students and reforms. A spirited debate ensues at our kitchen table between a union leader A.J. Duffy and education expert David Abel. Moderated by David Lehrer of Community advocates.
ARTIST ED MOSES AT 81
He's been one of the central figures in the Los Angeles painting scene since the late '50s. Now Ed Moses has two simultaneous shows of new work an explosion of color and bold shapes. Vicki Curry visits Moses at his studio in Venice the day after his birthday to explore his long career. (Moses exhibits at Frank Lloyd and Bobbie Greenfield galleries at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica.)
STEM CELL RESEARCH PAYING OFF
After years of controversy and legal delays, state money for stem cell research in California is beginning to flow. But at UC Irvine they have been doing stem cell research for years. And as Roger Cooper reports you can see the results in an experiment that could offer hope for thousands with spinal cord injuries.
L.A. TIMES OWNERSHIP: IS LOCAL BETTER?
The Chicago-based Tribune Company is selling the L.A. Times to a Chicago-based real estate tycoon. Many Angelenos believe out-of-town ownership has been part of the paper's troubles. But how much difference would a local make? What impact does it have on journalism? The guests at our kitchen table this week are L.A. Times reporter Henry Weinstein, USC journalism professor J.T. Harris, and David Lehrer of CommUnity Advocates.
CORNERSTONE THEATER
You don't have to plunk down $80 for a theater ticket. Here in Los Angeles we have Cornerstone Theater. As Vicki Curry tells us, for 20 years it has been introducing people to the stage by getting them on the stage. (Cornerstone's next production is "Beyond the Beyond: the Gay Future World." Details at cornerstonetheater.org.)
GRIFFITH PARK RECOVERY PLAN
How long will it take for Griffith Park to recover from a the blaze that blackened 800 acres? What will it mean for the Griffith Park master plan? For hikers? For this piece of nature in the middle of L.A.? Hena Cuevas reports.
FACING GENOCIDE
A former marine took a job monitoring the conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan. There he took 3000 photos, documenting murder, plunder and massacres. Now he's written a book and published the photos that the Sudan government would not want you to see. Val Zavala talks with author/photographer Brian Steidle about his book The Devil Came on Horseback. (Benefit art show on May 18th at City Hall. Info at hopeartists.org)
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and his movie critics tell us what's worth our time and money.
EMPTY LOTS, EMPTY PROMISES
Community leaders in south L.A. want businesses to fill vacant lots, and keep liquor stores at bay. So why don't they? Sometimes the problem is city government. Toni Guinyard looks at local leaders who are putting L.A.'s planning chief on the hot seat.
THE POLITICS OF DOCUMENTARIES
Who would guess that a powerpoint presentation on global warming would win an Oscar. An Inconvenient Truth, along with other politically charged documentaries, are impacting public policy. Is this a good thing? Our kitchen table conversationalists are commentator Jim Hirsen, USC cultural historian Leo Braudy, and David Lehrer of CommUnity Advocates.
IT ALL STARTED WITH BAMBI
He brought Chinese painting techniques to the backgrounds of the classic movie Bambi. From there Tyrus Wong went on to paint, print and work with ceramics. Now in his late 80s Val Zavala meets this charming and modest artist and looks back at his impressive career.
INTERFAITH MARRIAGE
Does marrying outside your religion create inclusiveness? Or dilute one's religious practice? Saul Gonzalez looks at the growing number of inter-faith marriages between Christians and Jews.
COSMETIC SURGERY FOR IRAQ VETS
Hollywood celebrities get the star treatment from cosmetic surgeons. Now hundreds of Iraq war vets are coming home disfigured. Meet a Rancho Mirage nurse who believes our vets should be treated like stars too. Sheryl Kahn reports.
OPENING DOORS IN HOLLYWOOD
Sandra Oh aside, roles for Asian-American actors are limited. But in their corner is producer Teddy Zee (Hitch and Saving Face) who knows how to work the Hollywood system to create opportunities for minorities.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH AN OLD MATTRESS FACTORY?
Ventura developer Josh Addison could have made much more money turning an old mattress factory into condos. Instead he has given dozens of artists an affordable place to work, and a low-income neighborhood a community center. Is it paying off? Val Zavala goes to Ventura to see if art and redevelopment can get along.
WATER WATER EVERYWHERE BUT CAN WE DRINK IT?
It's an underground aquifer that rivals Lake Tahoe. But much of it is polluted. If we're going to have enough water for disasters, drought and low water rates, we'd better clean up the San Gabriel Aquifer. Sam Louie looks at this huge resource that we can't afford to waste.
FORGOTTEN MURDERS
She's a crime reporter for the L.A. Times who realized that too many of the 1000+ murders each year go completely unreported. So she took it upon herself to commemorate ther victims on a blog. Vicki Curry talks with Jill Leovy who says the typical murder is very different from the one that makes headlines.
THE FEMALE FORM: ROBERT GRAHAM EXHIBIT
While other artists experimented with abstract forms or conceptual art, Robert Graham stayed true to his deepest love the human form. Val Zavala profiles this renowned artist as an extensive exhibition of his work opens at the Ace Gallery in Beverly Hills.
REMOVING HALF A BABY'S BRAIN?
Hundreds of parents have been told by doctors that the best thing they can do for their baby is to remove as much as half of its brain. Why? It's the best known cure for severe epilepsy. How can a child function? You'd be amazed. Val Zavala meets a family from Long Beach who has been through the ordeal with their little girl, Hannah.
PARALYZED OVERNIGHT
He wasn't in a car accident or injured in anyway. Then literally overnight he was paralyzed from the waist down. How do you adjust to life in a wheelchair at age 51. Hena Cuevas meets Allen Ruddick, the author of The Best Seat in the House.
MEDICAL CARE IN THE EXPRESS AISLE
Tired of trying to get a last-minute appointment with your doctor for something really simple? You'll like a new trend. It puts clinics where the customers are. They're convenient, but are they good medicine? Roger Cooper looks at the growing number of clinics in drug stores.
MORE SLOT MACHINES FOR INDIAN CASINOS?
The Morongo tribe is among several lobbying Sacramento for tens of thousands of more slot machines. (There are already 60,000 at Indian casinos statewide.) Proponents say the slots will help California's budget. But critics say enough is enough, and wealthy Indian casinos do not provide employees with adequate health benefits. Which way will the legislature go? Will hefty contribution from tribes sway state lawmakers? Roger Cooper reports.
CALIFORNIA'S LYNCHING HISTORY
California has been the scene of hundreds of lynchings more than historians previously thought. Now author Ken Gonzalez-Day has uncovered events long lost to history in a Pulitzer-nominated book. Val Zavala gets a tour of locations in L.A. where lynchings occurred.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Get the skinny on the latest films big and small from Larry Mantle and his film critics.
SANCTUARY UNDER CHURCH ROOFS
La Placita and several other Catholic churches in Los Angeles have launched a sanctuary movement to provide safe haven for families threatened with deportation. Do they have the right to defy federal law? Toni Guinyard meets one of the people the church hopes to offer sanctuary.
IS THE NAACP STILL RELEVANT?
Has the Civil Right movement of the '60s successfully completed its mission? Are current day Black leaders out of touch with today's African-American community? For a lively conversation at our kitchen table we hear from commentator Jasmine Cannick and libertarian Tom Phillips, with Joe Hicks of Community Advocates, Inc.
A SECOND LOOK AT THE "FOURTH GREAT ONE"
Mexican painter Rufino Tamayo is often called "the fourth great one" following muralists Rivera, Siqueiros and Orozco. But now a major exhibition at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art challenges that description. Tamayo was criticized for departing from the Mexican tradition of putting politics into his art. Could that be the reason his art seems even more relevant today? Val Zavala talks with curator Diane Dupont. (Exhibition up through May 28th)
ONE-WAY TRAFFIC SOLUTION?
L.A. is considering turning two main streets Pico and Olympic into one-way boulevards. Experts say it would speed up cross-town traffic. But would the improvement be worth the cost and the hassle? Groups in Koreatown are especially concerned about the impact on business. Hena Cuevas looks at the pros and cons of one-ways.
EXTREME SCHOOL MAKEOVER
A principal at a Canoga Park continuation school insists he can take the toughest schools in L.A. and straighten them out in 30 days. He uses 10 hard-and-fast rules based on personal integrity, like "we show up," "we work," "we care," and "we live clean and sober." Paul White has attracted the attention of a TV producer. Is his claim just bluster or for real? Val Zavala takes a look for herself.
CHILDREN OF SLAM
Slam poetry, urban poetry or spoken word performances are giving poetry new life. Vicki Curry talks with Ratpack Slim, a poet who has also produced a show called "Children of Slam." (check out kcet.org for excerpt of poets' works.)
TIJUANA CRACKDOWN
Tourists are staying away from Tijuana and well-to-do residents are taking refuge north of the Border because of violent crime, police corruption and kidnappings. The Mexican government has responded with an unprecedented crackdown, going so far as to transfer 10,000 soldiers to the police force. Saul Gonzalez talked with local business owners about whether the crackdown can succeed.
DEBUNKING FOOD FEARS
Is fast food really the cause of obesity? What does "natural" actually mean? Why do we demonize and worship food? We have less to worry about than the headlines say according to USC sociologist, Barry Glassner, whose earlier book (Culture of Fear) debunked our exaggerated fears. Val Zavala talks with Glassner about his latest book, Gospel of Food.
LIFE COACHES: BENEFICIAL OR BOGUS?
They are the latest tool in our quest for success life coaches. There are tens of thousands of life coaches in the U.S. charging as much as $200 an hour. Are they worth it? What kind of training and credentials do they have? Sam Louie looks at this new field and meets a man who turned his love of Christmas into a lucrative business, with the help of a life coach.
DISNEYLAND RESISTING LOW-INCOME HOUSING
The City of Anaheim has enjoyed a good relationship with Disneyland, which has been an economic gold mine for the city. But a public feud has developed over housing. Anaheim needs more housing especially affordable homes for low-income families. They city wants to build in the area around the resort Disney says it should remain a tourist area. As Sam Louie reports, the Mouse is digging in its heels.
BIG STATE PARK COMING TO URBAN L.A.
It's right in the middle of a dense urban jungle the last, large undeveloped parcel of land in Los Angeles County. Now work is underway to turn 1300 acres of this natural oasis into a State Park, with unparalleled views from the mountains to the sea.
THE SANDS OF TIME: SANTA MONICA BEACH HISTORY
Did you know that a railroad once ran along Santa Monica Beach? That there was once a Japanese fishing village along its shore? Vicki Curry talks with local historian, Ernest Marquez, about his book, Santa Monica Beach: A Collector's Pictorial History.
FACING FORECLOSURE
Home foreclosures in California are up 170% from last year. It's the fallout from subprime and adjustable rate mortgages that over-burden homebuyers. Are they victims of lenders? Or victims of their own naivete? Sam Louie meets one woman who is losing her piece of the American dream.
AIR FORCE CADETS FOR CHRIST?
Cadets "encouraged" to see The Passion of the Christ. Ads in an Air Force paper saying "We believe that the only hope for mankind is Jesus Christ." All evidence that the Air Force Academy is trying to produce evangelical Christians. A soldier turned author says fundamental Christianity permeates the Air Force Academy. Val Zavala talks with Michael Weinstein, author of With God on Our Side. (A speaker at Town Hall Los Angeles Tuesday, May 1st.)
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Don't head to the movies until you get the word from KPCC's savvy film critics.
SOLUTION FOR THE HOMELESS: RIVER SIDE LIVING?
Does Ventura have an answer to the homeless problem? A tent city near a river is run by the homeless themselves. But even nature may have her limits. Hena Cuevas visits "River Haven", a refuge for people who would otherwise be on Ventura's streets. Could it work other cities?
SWEEPS OR SERVICES FOR L.A.'S HOMELESS?
Our kitchen table debaters take on the controversy over the crackdown on skid row. Are police enforcing the law? Or just clearing out the homeless for downtown's new upscale residents? L.A.P.D. Captain Andrew Smith faces off against homeless advocate, Bob Erlenbush.
A BEAUTIFUL NOISE
It's a cacophony of musical sounds. The noisy discovery of orchestra instruments by youngsters who have never held, much less played a tuba, violin, oboe or cello. Val Zavala follows the Music Mobile to Willard elementary school in Pasadena where 3rd graders become a budding orchestra in less than an hour. (Funded by the Pasadena Showcase House open through May 20th.)
IMMIGRANTS: WHO GETS IN?
Immigrants may take to the streets but it's the line at the INS office and a maze of rules that will determine who gets legal papers. The process is often arbitrary, bureaucratic, time-consuming and not always fair. Anne McDermott looks at the process of become legal.
NEW MAGAZINE AIMS TO TRANSFORM
The founder of the L.A. Weekly is at it again. Only this time Jay Levin says "Real Talk LA" – an interview-driven monthly – will connect, inform and even transform L.A.'s young cross-cultural creative types. Is it too ambitious a goal in this magazine saturated world?
HELP WITH THE SATS
It's that time of year when millions of college-bound seniors sweat out the big test that will steer them toward McDonalds or the corner office. Humorist and commentator Cris Franco has a put together his "Ace the SATs Kit" guaranteed to help any student score a perfect 2400 (or lower).
CLOUDED VISION ON MT. PALOMAR
The huge telescope at the renowned Palomar Observatory in north San Diego County is being blinded by light pollution. Astronomers track not just stars, but meteors that could be headed our way. Can we dim our city lights? Roger Cooper takes a trip to this beautiful and fascinating mountain top.
GOVERNOR'S HEALTH PLAN: CAN IT SURVIVE?
Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed a sweeping health plan that would insure virtually every Californian. But can it survive the gauntlet of special interests? Our guests at the kitchen table size up the chances of the plan surviving.
A MASTER OF FONTS
How many fonts letter styles do you think there are in the world? If you guessed 50,000 you're only half right. What does it take to design an original font? A lot more than doodling. Val Zavala visits the home of L.A.'s dean of fonts and logotypes, the charming and erudite Doyald Young.
DERAILING LIGHT RAIL?
A proposal to extend the light rail line from Culver City to Santa Monica is running into opposition. Some vocal residents from an affluent neighborhood, Cheviot Hills, don't want it going through their neighborhood. Toni Guinyard looks at both sides of a clash over the Expo line.
MAKING CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY
It's a chapter of civil rights history seldom found in history books. A southern California family challenged schools that prohibited Mexican children from attending. Their case went all the way to state supreme court. Now they are being honored with a stamp and the attention they deserve. Hena Cuevas tells their remarkable story.
A LOOK INSIDE GRAPHIC DESIGN
We are surrounded by their work billboards, ads, websites, logos, commercials. But in this media-saturated society how do designers cut through the clutter? Val Zavala visits the award-winning firm of Adams-Morioka for an inside look at how graphic designers think and work.
I.D. CARDS FOR POT USERS?
The newest government I.D. cards may be for people who are legally allowed to smoke marijuana. O.C. Supervisors voted to regulate medical marijuana, including proposed I.D.s to AIDS and cancer patients. Reporter Roger Cooper tells us this is part of the battle over medical marijuana that started 11 years ago when California voters passed prop 215.
KEN BURNS ON "THE WAR"
A major PBS documentary on WWII by Ken Burns has been criticized by Latino groups for ignoring the Mexican-American experience. Val Zavala talks with Burns about how he approached the making of this 14-hour documentary which premieres in September. (Interview taped before Latino controversy.)
FILMWEEK
You can't judge a movie by the poster. Get the skinny on this week's releases from our movie critics.
HONEY BEES DISAPPEARING
It's a bizarre and disturbing mystery. Millions of honey bees are disappearing in the U.S. and Europe. They leave the hives without a trace, creating serious problems for farming. Reporter Spencer Michels take a close look at this strange phenomenon. (And by the way ... Einstein experts at Caltech say that the quote "If the bee disappears off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left" was probably NOT said by Albert Einstein. They can find no record of him saying that.)
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION - WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
Several Catholic churches in southern California are getting ready to offer political sanctuary to some immigrant families in danger of deportation. They are testing a law that says churches cannot harbor criminals. Can they invoke a higher law? At our kitchen table this week are Rabbi Steven Jacobs, Lupe Moreno of Latino Americans for Immigration Reform, and Joe Hicks of Community Advocates.
MOTHER TERESA OF LOS ANGELES
At age 80-something Sister Julia Mary of Good Shepherd Center has spent two decades helping homeless woman. Val Zavala meets with this soft spoken but determined nun, and a few of the hundreds of women whose stories reveal hardship, heartache and redemption.
RETAIL VILLAGES LOSING OUT TO CHAINS?
We all love the feel of quaint neighborhood shopping villages, like Leimert Park or Larchmont Village. But many of them are in danger of being taken over by chain stores. What's driving this trend? Can we do anything to stop it? Sam Louie has our story.
"V" DAY FOR VOLUNTEERS
Its enough to restore your faith in humanity. As many as 50,000 southern Californians will volunteer at hundreds of events this weekend. It's called Big Sunday. Who started this surge of good deeds? Val Zavala talks with David Levinson, the screenwriter who got tired of sitting in "development hell." (Go to bigsunday.org to see tons of volunteers events you can sign up for.)
BUTTERFLY PAVILION
It's that time of year when kids and lepidopterists have a chance to see these beautiful insects up close at the Butterfly Pavilion in Expositon Park.
CRIS FRANCO MEETS INQUIRING MINDS
The annual science fair reminds Cris Franco where he could be if he had paid attention in chemistry lab. Meet funny, charming and super smart kids who will impact our futures more than we know.
YOUNG, HOMLELSS, GAY AND ON METH
It's a dangerous combination – gay homeless youth who are tempted to try highly-addictive crystal meth. Why do they do it? And how can they stop? Hena Cuevas talks to a young man who got hooked, and counselors who are trying to get gay teens off the streets.
FROM THE PIPELINE TO THE PUMP
She has followed the flow of oil from Nigeria to the gas station looking for answers to all your pressing oil questions. Who controls the price of gasoline? Are consumer getting gouged? And why do they always list the price in tenths of a cent? Saul Gonzalez talks to Lisa Margonelli, the intrepid author of Oil on the Brain.
NORWALK GIRL MAKES IT BIG IN ART
Her sculptures are unforgettable creations, wires turned and twisted by hand. Now the innovative artistry of Ruth Asawa is on display at the Japanese-American National Museum. Vicki Curry gives us a look.
MOBILE HOME DWELLERS IN JEOPARDY
They are one of the last affordable housing options in southern California mobile home parks. But now they are threatened. Rising land prices are causing some park owners to sell. At others parks rent control may disappear forcing residents to move. But where? As Roger Cooper explains this troubling trend is happening throughout southern California.
CARE FOR SENIOR VETS
Inadequate care for veterans is nothing new. It seems to impact every generation of soldiers. Val Zavala talks to one vet who has had trouble getting the care he needs, but has also found one benefit that is making a big difference in his remaining years. But like many services, you have to know how to wade through the bureaucracy to get it.
MUMMIES AND MORE MUMMIES
It's the largest collection of Egyptian treasures to ever leave the British Museum. The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana is exhibiting 14 high-quality mummies and/or coffins along with an exploration of the mummification process and the ancient Egyptian's obsession with immortality. Orange County reporter Roger Cooper peeks inside the ritual of preparing the dead for the afterlife.
A WIFE STEPS IN WHEN THE MILITARY STEPS OUT
A wife and mother at Camp Pendleton felt her injured husband was abandoned by the system. He was shot in the eye while in Iraq. Part of his brain was removed, along with 1/4 of his skull. He has memory problems and is nearly blind. So Tonia Sargent stepped in as his physical therapist. Hena Cuevas tells the story of one remarkable woman who is on a crusade to improve care for Iraqi war vets.
DISAPPEARING TROUT
Steelhead trout from Santa Monica to the Mexican border have dwindled from a high of 75,000 to a mere 1000. Environmentalists say a dam along Malibu Creek is a part of the problem. But others say the dam is a unique historic structure. Should it be destroyed or preserved? As Hena Cuevas tells us, it's costly, complicated and the question is, is a fish worth it?
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and his film critics give us their take on the latest Hollywood releases.
WAR WEIGHS HEAVILY ON HEMET, CALIFORNIA
In Hemet, three young residents have been killed in action in Iraq this year alone. Nine overall, five from one local high school. Hemet is also home to a large number of veterans. We met with members of the local VFW post who bring the perspective of past conflicts to the war in Iraq and is impact on their community. Toni Guinyard has part 2 of KCET's look at America At A Crossroads.
L.A. TEACHER'S UNION: PROBLEM OR SOLUTION?
Some say that the teacher's union is too powerful, that it blocks reforms and puts teacher benefits before students. Union leaders say teachers are the best advocates for students and reforms. A spirited debate ensues at our kitchen table between a union leader A.J. Duffy and education expert David Abel. Moderated by David Lehrer of Community advocates.
ARTIST ED MOSES AT 81
He's been one of the central figures in the Los Angeles painting since the late '50s. Now Ed Moses has two simultaneous shows of new work an explosion of color and bold shapes. Vicki Curry visits Moses at his studio in Venice the day after his birthday to explore his long career. (Moses exhibits at Frank Lloyd and Bobbie Greenfield galleries at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica.)
THE MOST PERSONAL SACRIFICE
The city of Hemet in Riverside County has lost more residents per capita than any other town in California. We meet two families whose sons were killed in Iraq. How have they dealt with the loss? How has it impact their lives, and their views on the war? Toni Guinyard has our story for KCET's look at America At A Crossroads.
VIRGINIA TECH MASSACRE
A lot has been learned in the last 24 hours about the killings at Virginia Tech University. Authorities now know who the killer was. But many questions remain. Ray Suarez of the NewsHour recounts the events of this emotional day.
ART YOU CAN SIT ON
Designer/artist/architect/mathematician Gregg Fleishman creates unforgettable versions of ordinary things – like chairs, bicycles and shelters. Fleishman's creativity is everywhere as Val Zavala takes a tour of this experimenter's gallery and studio in the heart of Culver City.
IMMIGRANT BUSINESSES REACHING OUT
Entrepreneurs from other countries have started thousands of businesses big and small in southern California. Now many of them are ready to start marketing to other ethnic groups and mainstream customers. Toni Guinyard looks at how they do it and what it means to our evolving economy.
HAZING OR RACISM IN THE LAFD
An L.A. firefighter's lawsuit is headed to trial over the now famous dog food incident. Was it a prank? Or, as Tennie Pierce claims, a racist incident? For some opposing viewpoints we brought together radio host Larry Elder, community activist Najee Ali, and Joe Hicks from Community Advocates for a provocative conversation around our kitchen table.
PAUL MAZURSKY DIRECTS ON STAGE
His list of movie credits is impressive Bob and Carol, Ted and Alice, An Unmarried Woman, Down and Out in Beverly Hills. But now Paul Mazursky is lending his talents to the premier of a new play, Catskill Sonata that takes place in a hotel in the Catskill mountains during a summer in the '50s. Val Zavala talks with Mazursky about how Hollywood has changed and why he has returned to his first love the theater.
A LOT OF UNMARRIED WOMEN
The traditional American family is no longer made up of mom, dad and the kids at home. What's growing is the number of unmarried women, in particular African American women. So what's behind this trend and are single women happy about it? Sam Louie has our story.
LOCAL BOY BECOMES ARTS CHIEF
He grew up in the working class town of Hawthorne. Today Dana Gioia is Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. He's also a renowned poet, and scholar. Val Zavala talks with Gioia about why California is last among stated for arts funding, and whether fine art is just for the wealthy.
A TURN OF THE CENTURY ARTISTS' HANGOUT
If you were an artist or a musician or a writer in L.A. a hundred years ago, one of the coolest places to hang out was the Charles Lummis House. Vicki Curry takes us inside this fun and funky home off the 110 freeway that's in need of some serious TLC.
TURNING 18 IN FOSTER CARE
For teenagers in foster care turning 18 can be frightening. Many end up living on the streets. And there are too few places that help them. Hena Cuevas found one place called Rosemary Children's Services in Pasadena and met a young woman facing life as an adult.
CHINESE GRAVESITES
Relations have improved somewhat between the MTA and Chinese-American community since MTA construction crews uncovered more than a 100 graves near Chinatown a couple years ago. At that time local leaders were upset and accused the MTA of mishandling the remains. Now the MTA has agreed to reinter the remains. As Anne McDermott report, the discovery is a reminder of L.A.'s racist past.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and his film critics gives us their picks and pans among this week's movie openings.
STEM CELL RESEARCH PAYING OFF
After years of controversy and legal delays, state money for stem cell research in California is beginning to flow. But at UC Irvine they have been doing stem cell research for years. And as Roger Cooper reports you can see the results in an experiment that could offer hope for thousands with spinal cord injuries.
L.A. TIMES OWNERSHIP: IS LOCAL BETTER?
The Chicago-based Tribune Company is selling the Times to a Chicago-based real estate tycoon. Many Angelenos believe out-of-town ownership has been part of the paper's troubles. But how much difference would a local make? What impact does it have on journalism? The guests at our kitchen table this week are L.A. Times reporter Henry Weinstein, USC journalism professor J.T. Harris, and David Lehrer of CommUnity Advocates.
CORNERSTONE THEATER
You don't have to plunk down $80 for a theater ticket. Here in Los Angeles we have Cornerstone Theater. As Vicki Curry tells us, for 20 years it has been introducing people to the stage by getting them on the stage. (Cornerstone's next production is "Beyond the Beyond: the Gay Future World." Details at cornerstonetheater.org.)
REMOVING HALF A BABY'S BRAIN?
Hundreds of parents have been told by doctors that the best thing they can do for their baby is to remove as much as half of its brain. Why? It's the best known cure for severe epilepsy. How can a child function? You'd be amazed. Val Zavala meets a family from Long Beach who has been through the ordeal with their little girl, Hannah.
PARALYZED OVERNIGHT
He wasn't in a car accident or injured in anyway. Then literally overnight he was paralyzed from the waist down. How do you adjust to life in a wheelchair at age 51? Hena Cuevas meet Allen Ruddick, the author of The Best Seat in the House.
MEDICAL CARE IN THE EXPRESS AISLE
Tired of trying to get a last minute appointment with your doctor for something really simple? You'll like a new trend – it puts clinics where the customers are. They're convenient, but are they good medicine? Roger Cooper looks at the growing number of clinics in drug stores.
ASIAN-AMERICAN POLITICAL CLOUT
The neck-and-neck race between two Vietnamese-Americans for O.C. Supervisor has revealing the rising political clout of Asian-Americans. Roger Cooper looks at the larger picture of an upcoming demographic group that is entering the political arena in Orange County and beyond.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SEAFOOD
There is a way you can help improve the health of our troubled oceans eat the right seafood. But choices are confusing. Vicki Curry talks to a chef at the Aquarium of the Pacific for some eco-friendly and tasty choices.
GRAFFITI CONVICTIONS
Mayor Villaraigosa recently offered to mentor a young tagger who put his moniker on a bus that the Mayor was riding. Mentoring is good, but the city of Montebello is hitting back with something harder jail time. How have they gotten graffiti convictions? Val Zavala explains.
RISING PRICE OF CITIZENSHIP
The fees for becoming a US citizen are skyrocketing. Immigration offices are being inundated with people trying to beat the rising cost. But what about those who don't beat the deadline? Are immigrants being priced out of the American dream? Toni Guinyard reports.
ZERO INTEREST LOANS
Where can you borrow up to $20,000 for zero interest? At the Jewish Free Loan Association. They've been making these loans for the last hundred years for everything from medical bills, college tuition, business startups, to helping victims of domestic violence and even couples who want to adopt a child. Val Zavala talks with Executive Director and CEO, Mark Meltzer.
THE BIG PICTURE AT GEMINI G.E.L.
Few people outside of the art world have heard about it, but it's one of the most famous artist workshops in the world. The names of the people who have worked there are like a roll call of art superstars. No one is admitted without an invitation. Vicki Curry talks with the founders of this exclusive workshop, and gives us a rare glimpse inside.
SMALL CITY WITH BIG POLICE PROBLEMS
The city of Maywood is being investigated by the state Attorney General's office for corruption. In particular, some police officers are in cahoots with towing companies to prey on illegal immigrants. As Hena Cuevas tells us the problem has been developing for several years. Will the new city council be able to clean up the cops?
EXTREME SCHOOL MAKEOVER
A principal at a Canoga Park continuation school insists he can take the toughest schools in L.A. and straighten them out in 30 days. He uses 10 hard-and-fast rules based on personal integrity. Rules like "we show up," "we work," "we care," "we live clean and sober." Paul White has attracted the attention of a TV producer. Is his claim just bluster or for real? Val Zavala takes a look for herself.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle of KPCC radio and his movie critics size up Grind House, The Hoax and The TV Set.
WHITE SUPREMACIST GANG IN O.C.
Police are cracking down on a white supremacist gang that started in Long Beach and has spread through Orange County and even to the Arizona border. Police discovered a list of "targets" that included police officers. A sweep has netted 67 gang members, but hundreds remain on the streets. Roger Cooper takes a look at "Public Enemy Number One." How do they operate? And how can you recognize them?
LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE
Last fall we brought you the story of a determined newspaper reporter who was diagnosed with a fatal disease. Leo Greene has ALS more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. There is no cure. The body's limbs steadily stop working. Leo is recounting his story in print and video on the website of the Ontario newspaper he works for, the Daily Bulletin. We see Leo as he was five months ago and today.
SHANGHAI TREASURES
The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana is twice the size it was only a few months ago. And to help kick off the new wing, the Bowers is bringing priceless artifacts from China dating back 5000 years. Vicki Curry got a look at these Treasures from Shanghai.
BARRIO BASEBALL'S GOLDEN AGE
From the '30s to the '60s there was only one place to be on a Sunday afternoon in East L.A – at the local ball field where teams like the "Chorizeros" wowed the crowds. Val Zavala meets Saul Toleda, a player from this championship team, and delves into the history captured in a unique exhibit at Cal State L.A.
TIJUANA CRACKDOWN
Tourists are staying away from Tijuana and well-to-do residents are taking refuge north of the Border because of violent crime, police corruption and kidnappings. The Mexican government has responded with an unprecendented crackdown, going so far as to transfer 10,000 soldiers to the police force. Saul Gonzalez talked with local business owners about whether the crackdown can succeed.
DEBUNKING FOOD FEARS
Is fast food really the cause of obesity? What does "natural" actually mean? Why do we demonize and worship food? We have less to worry about than the headlines say according to USC sociologist, Barry Glassner, whose earlier book (Culture of Fear) debunked our exaggerated fears. Val Zavala talks with Glassner about his latest book, Gospel of Food.
LIFE COACHES: BENEFICIAL OR BOGUS?
They are the latest tool in our our quest for success life coaches. There are an tens of thousands of life coaches in the U.S. charging as much as $200 an hour. Are they worth it? What kind of training and credentials do they have? Sam Louie looks at this new field and meets a man who turned his love of Christmas into a lucrative business, with the help of a life coach.
YOUNG PRINCIPAL DOES THE IMPOSSIBLE
An elementary school in Carson is proving that minority kids in a high risk neighborhood can test as well as their affluent counterparts. The catalyst behind this dramatic change is a first-time principal who took the reins when she was only 27. How did this young woman create a school full of college minded kids? Sam Louie has the story.
CIGARETTES AND THE NANNY STATE
Have local governments over-regulated smoking? In Calabasas smoking is restricted not just in buildings but outdoors. A lively kitchen debate ensues between Calabasas city councilman Barry Groveman who pushed the anti-smoking regulation through. And Brian Doherty from Reason magazine who says its illegal behavior is one thing, but annoying behavior is another.
TEENAGE DIARIES RE-OPENED
Before there was myspace there were diaries. Cris Franco has discovered that those diaries – brimming with adolescent angst – are the hippest form of entertainment and self-mortification.
PUBLIC GOOD OR LEGAL EXTORTION?
A long-standing soda pop store in Highland Park that was hit with a legal notice telling them they are selling hazardous products. The owner says they don't make the product but they have informed the public according to Prop 65 law. But the law allows them to be sued anyway. They're only choice? Settle or go to court. As Val Zavala reports some attorneys are making millions abusing Prop 65.
AGING INMATES
The cost of caring for California's aging prison population is spiraling out of control. Now there is a growing call to release older inmates who no longer pose a threat to society. Sam Louie talks to some seniors who are behind bars, and to victims rights advocates who say they should stay there.
KEYBOARD CARS
There are only two cars like this on the planet, covered bumper to bumper with keys from old teletype machines. What possessed the owners/artists to spend countless hours on these alphabetic exteriors? Can you take them through a car wash?
DISNEYLAND AND HOUSING
The City of Anaheim has enjoyed a good relationship with Disneyland, which has been an economic gold mine for the city. But a public feud has developed over housing. Anaheim needs more housing especially affordable homes for low-income families. They city wants to build in the area around the resort – Disney says it should remain a tourist area. As Sam Louie reports, the Mouse is digging in its heels.
BALDWIN HILLS PARK
It's right in the middle of a dense urban jungle the last, large undeveloped parcel of land in Los Angeles County. Now work is underway to turn 1300 acres of this natural oasis into a state park, with unparalled views from the mountains to the sea.
FILMWEEK
Larry Mantle and his critics review four of this week's new releases ... The Lookout, After the Wedding, Blades of Glory, and Meet the Robinsons.
PALOMAR LIGHT POLLUTION
Scientists at Palomar Observatory in north San Diego County are having a hard time doing their job. Light pollution from urban areas is obstructing their view of the heavens. What can cities do about it? Roger Cooper says a fair amount if they are willing.
GOVERNOR'S HEALTH PLAN IN TROUBLE?
Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed a sweeping health plan that would insure virtually every Californian. But can it survive the gauntlet of special interests? Our guests at the kitchen table size up the chances of the plan surviving.
A MASTER OF FONTS
How many fonts letter styles do you think there are in the world? If you guessed 50,000 you're only half right. What does it take to design an original font? A lot more than doodling. Val Zavala visits the home of L.A.'s dean of fonts and logotypes, the charming and erudite Doyald Young.
DERAILING LIGHT RAIL?
A proposal to extend the light rail line from Culver City to Santa Monica is running into opposition. Some vocal residents from an affluent neighborhood, Cheviot Hills, don't want it going their neighborhood. Toni Guinyard looks at both sides of clash over the expo-line.
MAKING CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY
It's a chapter of civil rights history seldom found in history books. A southern California family challenged schools that prohibited Mexican children from attending. Their case went all the way to state supreme court. Now they are being honored with a stamp and the attention they deserve. Hena Cuevas tells their remarkable story.
A LOOK INSIDE GRAPHIC DESIGN
We are surrounded by their work billboards, ads, websites, logos, commercials. But in this media saturated society how do designers cut through the clutter? Val Zavala visits the award-winning firm of Adams-Morioka for an inside look at how graphic designers think and work.
DEMANDING MORE FROM MINORITY STUDENTS
At Cleveland High School in Reseda teachers are getting tough on Black and Latino students with brutally honest tough talk followed by tough love. The goal: to improve behavior and raise academic performance. But some have criticized the program for it's racial approach. Toni Guinyard looks at a program that getting results and getting attention.
BRAIN DAMAGE HALTS SMOKING?
It sounds impossible, but USC researchers have found that people with lesions in a certain part of the brain can stop smoking easily and immediately. Val Zavala talks with Dr. Antoine Bechara about this remarkable finding.
A SLAVE'S VIEW OF WASHINGTON
Billy Lee was one of George Washington's closest confidants... and his slave. Lee witnessed the birth of a nation and his master's fight for freedom, although ironically not his own. A new play by Ted Lange recounts history moving slaves from behind the scenes to center stage. Vicki Curry talks with Lange about George Washington's Boy.
EAST L.A. IN SEARCH OF CITYHOOD
It feels neglected, ignored, left behind. It doesnt have what 88 other cities in L.A. County have cityhood. East Los Angeles is uncorporated, but it has a rich history, culture and politics. Is it time for East L.A. to stand on its own two city feet? But as Hena Cuevas tells us there's more to cityhood than a city hall.
SURGERY WITHOUT A KNIFE
Brain tumors are often considered a death sentence. But now a new device called a "gamma knife" uses radiation with a precision previously unachievable. We talk with reporter Allison Bruce of the Ventura County Star about her story on this promising new tool. (Website at venturacountystar.com)
DRUGGING RACE HORSES
They use drugs stimulants, legal and illegal to enhance their performance and increase speed. We're not talking about runners or cyclists. This time it's race horses. More race horses fail drug tests in California than in any other state. Roger Cooper has the story based on an Orange County Register investigation.
WATER WATER EVERYWHERE BUT CAN WE DRINK IT?
It's an underground aquifer that rivals Lake Tahoe. But much of it is polluted. If we're going to have enough water for disasters, drought and low water rates, we'd better clean up the San Gabriel Aquifer. Sam Louie looks at this huge resource that we can't afford to waste.
FORGOTTEN MURDERS
She's a crime reporter for the L.A. Times who realized that too many of the 1000+ murders each year go completely unreported. So she took it upon herself to commemorate ther victims on a blog. Vicki Curry talks with Jill Leovy who says the typical murder is very different from the one that makes headlines.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and his film critics scout out the great, the good and the not-so-good on the movie horizon.
YOUNG, HOMLELSS, GAY AND ON METH
It's a dangerous combination gay homeless youth who are tempted to try highly-addictive crystal meth. Why do they do it? And how can they stop? Hena Cuevas talks to a young man who got hooked, and counselors who are trying to get gay teens off the streets.
FROM THE PIPELINE TO THE PUMP
She has followed the flow of oil from Nigeria to the gas station looking for answers to all your pressing oil questions. Who controls the price of gasoline? Are consumer getting gouged? And why do they always list the price in tenths of a cent? Saul Gonzalez talks to Lisa Margonelli, the intrepid author of Oil on the Brain.
NORWALK GIRL MAKES IT BIG IN ART
Her sculptures are unforgettable creations, wires turned and twisted by hand. Now the innovative artistry of Ruth Asawa is on display at the Japanese-American National Museum. Vicki Curry gives us a look.
CHALLENGES ON THE HOME FRONT
A marine who goes to Iraq leaves his family facing problems and challenges. Wives often have a hard time handling the stress emotionally and financially. That's where a special military ministry comes in. Saul Gonzalez goes to Camp Pendleton where the war is taking its toll.
SANTA BARBARA GANG VIOLENCE
The recent murder of a gang member on Santa Barbara's main street isn't a surprise to police, who have been seeing the incursion of gangs into this affluent resort city. Jim Hill followed the police on gang patrol last August and saw the roots of last week's violence.
THE MOTHER TERESA OF LOS ANGELES
For more than 20 years she has been running a shelter for homeless women. Val Zavala visit Good Shepherd Center to meet an L.A. treasure, Sister Julia Mary, whose center has moved an estimated 20,000 women from the streets to a normal life.
LONG BEACH RACIAL DIVIDE
The city of Long Beach is facing one of the deepest racial divides in its history, sparked by the Halloween night beating of three white girls by a group of black youths. Each verdict and sentencing reopens the wounds. Is there any way for this city to heal? Sam Louie went to Long Beach to find out.
GANG MARSHALL PLAN: WILL IT WORK?
It's a plan of action with a big price tag. A comprehensive report has called for nearly a billion dollars to rid Los Angeles of gangs. But not everyone is convinced. For a lively discussion we brought three people together at our kitchen table. David Zahniser is a reporter for the L.A. Weekly who is skeptical about the gang plan. Bill Martinez is the with Pat Brown Institute at Cal State L.A. who says its time to take a big step. They are joined by Joe Hicks of CommUnity Advocates, Inc.
NEIGHBORHOOD CAFES DISAPPEARING
Neighborhood cafes, galleries and bookstores create a sense of community. But now many of them are facing rising rents and redevelopment, places like Tia Chucha's cafe and cultural center in Sylmar. And it's not just small ethnic places that are being bulldozed by real estate forces. Val Zavala looks at a trend that is making our neighborhoods poorer.
UPPING THE MONEY FOR CANS AND BOTTLES
Those cans and bottles are worth more these days. Why is that? Believe it or not California's recycling program ended up with a fat surplus -- $180 million. Toni Guinyard tells us how it happened and what it means for consumers and recyclers.
LOCAL NEWS DISAPPEARING
More and more TV, radio and newspapers are owned by a handful of big corporations. This has serious consequences for local news and community services. Val Zavala talks with NYU's Eric Klinenberg, author of "Fighting for Air" who says the L.A. Times and the Tribune Company is a cautionary tale about what happens when out-of-towners buy the local paper.
THE NEW LOS ANGELES
How did Los Angeles become the center of the immigrant rights movement? The story started decades ago, in the 1970's when minorities started claiming political power. Val Zavala looks at a new documentary that captures the dramatic events from the triumph of L.A.s first black mayor in 1973 to the victory of Antonio Villagraigosa.
MOBILE HOME DWELLERS IN JEOPARDY
They are one of the last affordable housing options in southern California mobile homes parks. But now they are threatened. Rising land prices are tempting some park owner to sell. At others rent control may disappear forcing residents to move -- but where? As Roger Cooper explains its happening throughout southern California.
CARE FOR SENIOR VETS
As care for our vets comes under scrutiny, one senior service agency is tapping into a benefit to help elderly vets. It provides for caretakers in the home. But like many services, you have to know how to wade through the bureaucracy to get it. Val Zavala talks with a vet who has gotten help from a company called Home Instead.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and his film critics give movie-goers their picks for this week.
IMMIGRANT BUSINESSES REACHING OUT
Entrepreneurs from other countries have started thousands of businesses big and small in southern California. Now many of them are ready to start marketing to other ethnic groups and mainstream customers. Toni Guinyard looks at how they do it and what it means to our evolving economy.
HAZING OR RACISM IN THE LAFD
An L.A. firefighter's lawsuit is headed to trial over the now famous dog food incident. Was is a prank? Or, as Tennie Pierce claims, a racist incident.? For some opposing viewpoints we brought together radio host Larry Elder, community activist Najee Ali, and Joe Hicks from Community Advocates for a provocative conversation around our kitchen table.
PAUL MAZURSKY DIRECTS ON STAGE
His list of movie credits is impressive – Bob and Carol, Ted and Alice, An Unmarried Woman, Down and Out in Beverly Hills. But now Paul Mazursky is lending his talents to the premier of a new play, Catskill Sonata that takes place in a hotel in the Catskill mountains during a summer in the '50s. Val Zavala talks with Mazursky about how Hollywood has changed and why he has returned to his first love – the theater.
MORE UNMARRIED WOMEN
There are now more unmarried women in the U.S. than married (51%). And for African-American women the portion is even higher (70%). What is fueling the trend? And are single women happy about it? Sam Louie has our story.
LOCAL BOY HEADS UP NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
He grew up in Hawthorne and has become a renowned poet, and now Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. Dana Gioia talks with Val Zavala about public funding for the arts. If wealthy philanthropists and corporations are donating millions to L.A. museums, why should taxpayers and regular folks contribute?
PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES: HISTORY OR SPIN?
You won't find information on the Iran-Contra scandal at the Ronald Reagan library in Simi Valley. Roger Cooper goes to the Reagan and Nixon libraries and asks whether they offer accurate history or flattering portraits of presidents purged of warts.
LAX'S CHIEF CLEARED FOR DEPARTURE
This soft-spoken, unflappable women with degrees from Stanford, Harvard and MIT has been running LAX and three other airports for most of the past seven years. What was it like to be in charge of LAX on 9-11? What did she learn from being in a man's world? And how did she get there? Val Zavala talks with Lydia Kennard, as she leaves her post as Executive Director of Los Angeles World Airports.
COIFFURE QUEENS
Black history is not just about Martin Luther King. Politics for African-American women was often expressed in their hair. From Afros to braids, from dreadlocks to relaxed, Black women have a special relationship with their hair. Vicki Curry talks with the author of Queens: Portraits of Black Women and Their Fabulous Hair.
NEW YORK LUXURY BUMPS TRADER VICS?
Nothing says New York opulence like the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Now a West Coast sister to the prestigious hotel is headed for Beverly Hills. But its destination means the beloved Trader Vics must go. Sam Louie takes a look at what the new will mean for the old at the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica.
FIRST BLACK FIRE CHIEF
Since its inception in 1876, the L.A. fire chiefs have all been white. Now with the controversial Tennie Pearce dog food lawsuit pending, L.A. has named its first African-American chief, Douglas Barry. Val Zavala talks with Barry about his hazing experience and how he intends to reform the troubled department.
ANOTHER SIDE TO MARLENE DIETRICH
We know her as the seductive actress in Witness for the Prosecution and other classics. But you may not know that Marlene Dietrich a German actress spoke out against the Nazis during WWII. Vicki Curry talks with Dietrich's grandson who recounts his grandmother's political activism in a new book.
DOG WHISPERER REDUX
Cesar Millan was recently honored at the L.A. City Hall for his service to dogs and their owners. We look back an excerpt from a story we produced on Millan back in 1999 before he was a household name.
SMALL CITY - BIG POLICE PROBLEMS
The city of Maywood is being investigated by the state Attorney General's office for corruption. In particular, police preying on illegal immigrants. As Hena Cuevas tells us the problem has been developing for several years. Will the new city council be able to clean up the cops?
CALIFORNIA'S LYNCHING HISTORY
California has been the scene of hundreds of lynchings more than historians previously thought. Now author Ken Gonzalez-Day has uncovered events long lost to history in a Pulitzer-nominated book. Val Zavala gets a tour of locations in L.A. where lynchings occurred.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and his movie critics give us their picks for the week's releases.
ASIAN-AMERICAN POLITICAL CLOUT
The hotly contested and still disputed race between two Vietnamese-Americans for O.C. Supervisor is revealing the rising political clout of Asian-Americans. Roger Cooper looks at the larger picture of an upcoming demographic group in O.C. and beyond.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SEAFOOD
There is a way you can help improve the health of our troubled oceans eat the right seafood. But choices are confusing. Vicki Curry talks to a chef at the Aquarium of the Pacific for some eco-friendly and tasty choices.
GRAFFITI CONVICTIONS
Mayor Villaraigosa recently offered to mentor a young tagger who put his moniker on a bus that the Mayor was riding. Mentoring is good, but the city of Montebello is hitting back with something harder jail time. How have they gotten graffiti convictions? Val Zavala explains.
PRICE OF CITIZENSHIP
The fees for becoming a US citizen are about to skyrocket. Business is booming at schools offering citizenship classes, and the US Citizenship and Immigration Service is being inundated by people who are trying to beat the rising cost. But what about those who don't beat the deadline? Are immigrants being priced out of the american dream?
NO INTEREST LOANS
Where can you borrow up to $20,000 for zero interest? At the Jewish Free Loan Association. They've been making these loans for the last hundred years for everything from medical bills, college tuition, business startups, to helping victims of domestic violence and even couples who want to adopt a child. Val Zavala talks with Executive Director and CEO, Mark Meltzer.
GEMINI G.E.L.
Few people outside of the art world have heard about it, but it's one of the most famous artist workshops in the world. The names of the people who have worked there are like a roll call of art superstars. No one is admitted without an invitation. Vicki Curry talks with the founders of this exclusive workshop, and gives us a rare glimpse inside.
EARTHQUAKE
If you think the Northridge quake was big, consider the really big one that struck along the San Andreas fault 150 years ago in January 1857. When the big one hits along San Andreas again and we're overdue it will cover an area 20 times the Northridge quake. Toni Guinyard talks to experts about the latest in earthquake findings.
FROM YOUR LAWN TO THE OCEAN
Does your lawn hurt the ocean? Probably. Millions of gallons of water loaded with fertilizers and pesticides end up in our oceans. Now the city of Newport Beach has a solution. They're offering homeowners free high-tech satellite-controlled sprinkler systems. How does that help the marine environment? Orange County reporter Roger Cooper explains.
RESCUING AN ARTS AND CRAFTS GEM
When a historic arts and crafts home in Pasadena was pillaged of its beautiful furnishings, there were only a few craftsmen who could recreate them in all their exquisite detail. Val Zavala visits with cabinet maker Jim Ipekjian who is reproducing museum-quality furnishings for a Greene and Greene home that was plundered.
MUSSEL-ING INTO OUR LAKES
A small mollusk that has created havoc in the lakes of Michigan has been found in the California aqueduct. It takes over and is virtually impossible to get rid of. It could spread to our lakes and reservoirs, unless state officials act quickly to stop it. Roger Cooper looks at ways to keep the Quagga mussel from getting out of control.
LIVING WAGE OR DYING BUSINSESS?
The L.A. City Council voted to require a group of hotels near LAX to pay a living wage --about $10/hour -- to its workers. The hotels say the City government can't dictate wages. We hear a lively kitchen table debate between a representative of business vs. low-wage workers, moderated by David Lehrer of CommUnity Advocates, Inc.
A SCULPTURE IN SEARCH OF RESPECT
A piece of public art in downtown L.A. has been described as "three wishbones in search of a turkey." Now, after years of neglect, can a refurbishing also polish up its reputation? Or is it doomed to getting dissed?
HAPPY EMPLOYEES DAY?
Have you noticed how there are more and more greeting cards for more and more "special" occasions? Life & Times commentator Cris Franco takes a survey of the many greetings you can find these days at the drug store.
PORT AIR QUALITY
It's the biggest single source of air pollution in the L.A. area. Now port officials are determined to cut pollution in half. But can truckers, cargo companies and terminal operators go green? As Saul Gonzalez tells us port officials are serious -- and they are after all the landlord.
PESOS FOR PIZZA
A take-out pizza place caught a lot of flack for accepting Mexican pesos for their pizzas. But the marketing tactic proved popular among customers. Did patriotism take a back seat to profits?
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Our movie watchers check out "Zodiac", "Black Snake Moan" "Avenue Montaigne" and "Grbavica"
SHANGHAI TREASURES
The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana is twice the size it was only a few months ago. And to help kick off the new wing, the Bowers is bringing priceless artifacts from China dating back 5000 years. Vicki Curry got a look at these Treasures from Shanghai.
YOUNG PRINCIPAL DOES THE IMPOSSIBLE
An elementary school in Carson is proving that minority kids in a high risk neighborhood can test as well as their affluent counterparts. The catalyst behind this dramatic change is a first-time principal who took the reins when she was only 27. How did this young woman create a school full of college minded kids? Sam Louie has the story.
CIGARETTES AND THE NANNY STATE
Have local government over-regulated smoking? For example, Calabasas where smoking is restricted not just in buildings but outdoors. A lively kitchen debate ensues between Calabasas city councilman Barry Groveman who pushed the anti-smoking regulation through. And Brian Doherty from Reason magazine who says its illegal behavior is one thing, but annoying behavior is another.
TEENAGE DIARIES RE-OPENED
Before there was myspace there were diaries. Cris Franco has discovered that those diaries brimming with adolescent angst -- are the hippest form of entertainment and self-mortification.
PUBLIC GOOD OR LEGAL EXTORTION?
A long-standing soda pop store in Highland Park that was hit with a legal notice telling them they are selling hazardous products. The owner says they don't make the product but they have informed the public according to Prop 65 law. But the law allows them to be sued anyway. Their only choice? Settle or go to court. As Val Zavala reports some attorneys are making millions abusing Prop 65.
AGING INMATES
The cost of caring for California's aging prison population is spiraling out of control. Now there is a growing call to release older inmates who no longer pose a threat to society. Sam Louie talks to some seniors who are behind bars, and to victims rights advocates who say they should stay there.
KEYBOARD CARS
There are only two cars like this on the planet, covered bumper to bumper with keys from old teletype machines. What possessed the owners/artists to spend countless hours on these alphabetic exteriors? Can you take them through a car wash?
PROJECT WALK
We visit a remarkable place that claims it can get paralyzed people to walk again, people who have suffered serious spinal cord injuries. They say they achieve more movement than traditional rehabilitation approaches. How do they do it? Hena Cuevas went to Carlsbad in San Diego County to see for herself.
HIDDEN HEART DISEASE IN WOMEN
She was told she had little chance of getting heart disease. Then she had two heart attacks. Many doctors don't recognize heart disease in women. As Val Zavala reports that's often because many women have clear arteries and still develop cardiovascular disease. It took a woman's study to solve the mystery. Val Zavala meets one patient with hidden heart disease and the doctor who helped her.
WHOOPING COUGH ON THE RISE
We think of it as a children's disease from a bygone era. But now whooping cough – or pertussis – is resurfacing in teenagers and adults. As Toni Guinyard tells us that has prompted heath officials to launch a vaccination campaign for the sake of individuals and the public.
MORGELLON'S DISEASE MYSTERY
It's a strange puzzle that is creating controversy among doctors, researchers and patients. It's called Morgellon's disease and the symptoms are not pretty. Patients report skin lesions that won't heal, along with stinging and biting sensations. And nearly all Morgellon patients suffer from mental disorders. Is it psychosomatic? Or real? Sam Louie takes a look at this perplexing medical mystery.
A SPIRIT UNDETERRED
He was a popular and successful Hollywood hairdresser who never thought he would get "the virus." But when Dalee Henderson learned he was HIV positive, it transformed his life. A documentary about Dalee Henderson called White Shadows recounts the story of a man who found his soul. Val Zavala talks with director, Mialyn Hannah. (For screening info go to whiteshadowsthefilm.com)
BLACKFACE REDUX
It was a painful chapter in African-American history. Minstrel shows in the late 1800s featuring white actors in blackface portraying black stereotypes. Now two young playwrights are reviving blackface in Dance: A History of American Minstrelsy. Shouldn't they let the past die?
BARAK OBAMA'S L.A. VISIT
He's been called a political "rock star". But how will Senator Barak Obama's be received by southern Californians? Hollywood moguls? African-Americans? Roger Cooper covers Obama's public appearance at the Rancho Cienega Sports Complex and talks with political analysts Kerman Maddox and Joe Cerrell about the early stages of an interesting presidential contest.
GRAND AVENUE PROJECT PROS AND CONS
A $2-billion dollars remodel of Bunker Hill complete with luxury hotels, expensive condos and shops got the ok from city and county supervisors. But did it give too much away to private developers? And how much will it cost taxpayers? Val Zavala talks to a supporter and critic of the grand plan.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Our movie watchers take stock of the latest film releases.
DEMANDING MORE FROM MINORITY STUDENTS
At Cleveland High School in Reseda teachers are getting tough on black students with brutally honest tough talk followed by tough love. The goal: to improve behavior and raise academic performance. But some have criticized the program for separating students by race. Toni Guinyard looks at a program that is getting results, and getting attention.
BRAIN DAMAGE HALTS SMOKING?
It sounds impossible, but USC researchers have found that people with lesions in a certain part of the brain can stop smoking easily and immediately. Val Zavala talks with Dr. Antoine Bechara about this remarkable finding.
A SLAVE'S VIEW OF WASHINGTON
Billy Lee was one of George Washington's closest confidants... and his slave. Lee witnessed the birth of a nation and his master's fight for freedom, although ironically not his own. A new play by Ted Lange recounts history moving slaves from behind the scenes to center stage. Vicki Curry talks with Lange about George Washington's Boy.
WHITE SUPREMACIST GANG IN O.C.
Police are cracking down on a white supremacist gang that started in Long Beach and has spread through Orange County and even to the Arizona border. Police discovered a list of "targets" that included police officers. A sweep has netted 67 gang members, but hundreds remain on the streets. Roger Cooper takes a look at "Public Enemy Number One." How do they operate? And how can you recognize them?
EUTHANASIA BILL REDUX
Two state assemblymembers are reintroducing an assisted-suicide bill in Sacramento. It is modeled after Oregon's so-called "Death With Dignity" law. They say it is time to reconsider euthanasia. Hena Cuevas talked with one of the sponsors, Lloyd Levine, a Democrat from Van Nuys.
PLANES OF FAME
More than 50 years ago these aircraft dueled in the skies over Europe and Asia. But when WWII was over thousands of fighter planes ended up in the scrap yard. A group of men at Chino airport believe the deserve a better fate. We see what they're up to at the Planes of Fame Air Museum.
CAN YOU SPELL "VILLARAIGOSA"?
Cris Franco takes to the streets to see how well Angelenos know their own city, and how willing they are to embarrass themselves.
BANNING TRANS FATS
Late last year, New York City announced that all of its restaurants would have to stop using trans fats in the preparation of their food. Now Los Angeles is thinking about doing the same thing. What are trans fats? How harmful are they? And what would a ban mean to the restaurant business. Hena Cuevas has some answers.
PLANT DAMAGE ADVICE
The cold snap did millions of dollars of damage to California's citrus crop, but it also turned plenty of our back yard plants brown. So what do we do now and how do we avoid damage in the future? For some advice, we came to an expert, Jim Folsom, director of the extensive and beautiful botanical gardens at The Huntington in San Marino.
RIVER OF THE FUTURE
L.A.'s hidden river is a concrete channel in many places. But you'd be surprised to see sections that are refreshingly green. Joe Linton from Friends of the L.A. River says nature can make a comeback with some help from its friends.
COMPENSATION FOR THE WRONGLY CONVICTED
Some people have spent years in prison for crimes they didn't commit. Then they are released. Should the wrongly-convicted get financial compensation for the lost years? The law says yes. Toni Guinyard tells us why so few receive it.
THE DYING MIDDLE CLASS
California's economic engine was built on a growing and thriving middle class. How did we become a region of haves and have-nots? Our kitchen table conversation explores the big changes that are shrinking our middle class, and what government and leaders can do to rebuild the middle, if they have the will.
CLEANING UP STAND-UP COMEDY
Racist, sexist and raunchy jokes are a staple of stand-up comics in night clubs. Now an association of Christian comics is bucking the trend. But can clean comedy compete in this crude, rude world? Val Zavala talks with comedian and actor, A.J. Jamal, about an alternative kind of comedy.
EAST L.A. IN SEARCH OF CITYHOOD
It feels neglected, ignored, left behind. It doesn't have what 88 other cities in L.A. County have cityhood. East Los Angeles is the incorporated area with a rich history, culture and politics. Some say it's time for it to stand on its own two city feet. But as Hena Cuevas tells us there's more to cityhood than a city hall.
SURGERY WITHOUT A KNIFE
Brain tumors are often considered a death sentence. But now a new device called a "gamma knife" uses radiation with a precision previously unachievable. We talk with reporter Allison Bruce of the Ventura County Star about her story on this promising new tool. (Look for the story Wednesday evening on their website at venturacountystar.com)
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and his film critics size up Breach, Days of Glory and Music and Lyrics. Will they sing along?
LONG BEACH RACIAL DIVIDE
The city of Long Beach is facing one of the deepest racial divides in its history, sparked by the Halloween night beating of three white girls by a group of black youths. Each verdict and sentencing reopens the wounds. Is there any way for this city to heal? Sam Louie went to Long Beach to find out.
GANG MARSHALL PLAN: WILL IT WORK?
It's a plan of action with a big price tag. A comprehensive report has called for nearly a billion dollars to rid Los Angeles of gangs. But not everyone is convinced. For a lively discussion we brought three people together at our kitchen table. David Zahniser is a reporter for the L.A. Weekly who is skeptical about the gang plan. Bill Martinez is the with Pat Brown Institute at Cal State L.A. who says its time to take a big step. They are joined by Joe Hicks of CommUnity Advocates, Inc.
NEIGHBORHOOD CAFES DISAPPEARING
Neighborhood cafes, galleries and bookstores create a sense of community. But now many of them are facing rising rents and redevelopment, places like Tia Chucha's cafe and cultural center in Sylmar. And it's not just small ethnic places that are being bulldozed by real estate forces. Val Zavala looks at a trend that is making our neighborhoods poorer.
UPPING THE MONEY FOR CANS AND BOTTLES
Those cans and bottles are worth more these days. Why is that? Believe it or not California's recycling program ended up with a fat surplus $180 million. Toni Guinyard tells us how it happened and what it means for consumers and recyclers.
LOCAL NEWS DISAPPEARING
More and more TV, radio and papers are owned by fewer and fewer big corporations. This has serious consequences for local news and community services. Val Zavala talks with NYU's Eric Klinenberg, author of Fighting for Air who says the L.A. Times and the Tribune Company is a cautionary tale about what happens when out-of-towners buy the local paper.
BOMB-SNIFFING DOGS
They come from a secret training camp somewhere in Los Angeles – bomb-sniffing dogs bound for Israel. Their sole mission is stopping suicide bombers in the Middle East. Now some of these canines are headed back to California for special duty. Gay Yee introduces us to these special animals and the man who's behind the training camp.
OCEANS OF TRASH
The garbage that flows from the L.A. river makes a journey of thousands of miles, and creates a serious mess on foreign shores. This special L.A. Times report on "Altered Oceans" shows us the shocking results.
A FLAP OVER HERONS
All along the coast flocks of great blue herons have taken up residence in trees. Now the trees are to be cut down to make way for development. Some say the birds were already displaced from wetlands and should be left alone. Others say the trees and birds should be relocated. As Hena Cuevas reports, everyone agrees these noisy birds are creating a ruckus.
BROWN ON BLACK HATE CRIMES
Recent statistics on hate crimes in L.A. show that the most common hate crime is not between white and black or even white and latinos. Rather it is between Latinos and Blacks. And the killing of a 12-year-old black girl by Latino gang members in December is fueling the tensions. What's at the root of the prejudice against African-Americans? Does it start south of the border? Val Zavala talks with author and political analyst Earl Ofari Hutchinson.
THE BEAT GENERATION
Before the hippies claimed the spotlight, there was the Beat Generation. And no, they were not only in New York. Cafes from the sunset strip to Newport Beach were stages for L.A.'s beat generation. Vicki Curry talked with two pop culture historians at the site of a former beat hangout in Venice.
WHO OWNS CELEBRITY PHOTOS?
Some bloggers are intercepting digitized photos of stars and putting them on popular websites. But the photos were taken by paparazzi for a celebrity photo company who paid for them. Hena Cuevas looks at an interesting legal showdown in the wild west of the web.
THE GOVERNOR'S HEALTH PLAN
In Governor Schwarzenegger's State of the State address he vowed to get every Californian insured. His proposal calls for everyone in our health care system doctors, hospitals, insurance companies, employers, and consumers to pitch in. Val Zavala talks with health policy expert Richard Brown of UCLA who explains the key points and challenges.
80 YEARS OF HISTORY
Have you ever noticed that old tall building near downtown, south of the 10 Freeway called "Patriotic Hall"? Ever wonder what was inside? It turns out, there are decades of history, documents and memorabilia. But a possible renovation means it may have to sorted out. Vicki Curry digs through our rich past with former Marine Jay Morales.
HORSES VS. WHOLE FOODS
It's a unique neighborhood where city dwellers can actually keep horses right in their own backyards. It's in Burbank. But now this equestrian paradise is shrinking. The latest threat is coming from a proposed Whole Foods grocery store. Hena Cuevas takes a look at what happens when horse lovers of Rancho Burbank clash with Whole Foods.
HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER FIRE
Has the war on terrorism also launched an attack against human rights? The head of Amnesty International, Larry Cox, argues that anti-terrorism measures have provided cover for repressive action and the undermining of human rights i.e., Guantanamo and Hussein's rushed execution. Val Zavala talks with Cox who says it's time to put U.S. policies back on track. (Cox is a guest of Town Hall Los Angeles, townhall-la.org)
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Our movie critics size-up the latest offerings amid this Oscar season.
PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES: HISTORY OR SPIN?
You won't find information on the Iran-Contra scandal at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley. Roger Cooper goes to the Reagan and Nixon libraries and asks whether they offer accurate history or flattering tributes purged of warts.
LAX'S CHIEF CLEARED FOR DEPARTURE
This soft-spoken, unflappable women with degrees from Stanford, Harvard and MIT has been running LAX and three other airports for most of the past seven years. What was it like to be in charge of LAX on 9-11? What did she learn from being in a man's world? And how did she get there? Val Zavala talks with Lydia Kennard, as she leaves her post at Executive Director of Los Angeles World Airports.
COIFFURE QUEENS
Black history is not just about Martin Luther King. Politics for African-American women was often expressed in their hair. From Afros to braids, from dreadlocks to relaxed, Black women have a special relationship with their hair. Vicki Curry talks with the author of Queens: Portraits of Black Women and Their Fabulous Hair.
NEW YORK LUXURY BUMPS TRADER VICS?
Nothing says New York opulence like the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Now a West Coast sister to the prestigious hotel is headed for Beverly Hills. But its destination means the beloved Trader Vics must go. Sam Louie takes a look at what the new will mean for the old at the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica.
FIRST BLACK FIRE CHIEF
Since its inception in 1876, the L.A. fire chiefs have all been white. Now with the controversial Tennie Pearce dog food lawsuit pending, L.A. has named its first African-American chief, Douglas Barry. Val Zavala talks with Barry about his hazing experience and how he intends to reform the troubled department.
ANOTHER SIDE TO MARLENE DIETRICH
We know her as the seductive actress in Witness for the Prosecution and other classics. But you may not know that Marlene Dietrich a German actress spoke out against the Nazis during WWII. Vicki Curry talks with Dietrich's grandson who recounts his grandmother's political activism in a new book.
DOG WHISPERER REDUX
Cesar Millan was recently honored at the L.A. City Hall for his service to dogs and their owners. We look back an excerpt from a story we produced on Millan back in 1999 before he was a household name.
DINOSAUR PARK EXTINCT?
The wonderful creatures in a children's park in San Gabriel were created by artist Benjamin Dominguez in the 1960s. But now modern safety codes could mean an end to the "dinosaur park" as it is called. Toni Guinyard visits the beloved playground and meets the son of the artist who is trying to save his father's work.
NANCY PELOSI PROFILE
Her father-in-law was a Congressman. Her brother was the mayor of Baltimore. But it is Nancy Pelosi who is making history as the first woman Speaker of the House. Spencer Michaels profiles this democrat from San Francisco who has won re-election eight times with more than 80% of the vote.
LOS ANGELES HISTORY IN PICTURES
Angelenos are famous for not knowing much of their own city's history. Now a new book puts memorable photos and great stories together. Val Zavala gets a photographic tour of L.A.'s past from Jon and Nancy Wilkman, co-authors of Picturing Los Angeles.
IRAQI VILLAGE IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DESERT
If you didn't know you were in southern California, you would swear you were in Iraq. As part of the training at Twenty-nine Palms, marines fight in an realistic Iraqi village, complete with Iraqi-American volunteers who play the roles of villagers. With more troops headed to Baghdad this kind of training is crucial. Reporter Sheryl Kahn looks at how the recruits are taking to "another country."
SHOULD THE MILITARY RECRUIT ON CAMPUS?
Some communities want to keep military recruiters out of their high schools. Should they have a right to block them? And colleges and law schools say the military's discriminatory policies toward gays and lesbians should disqualify them from campus recruiting? The meeting of two attorneys one a vet, the other a gay activist makes for a most interesting kitchen table debate.
LEATHER IS HIS CANVAS
For decades he's been carving and decorating saddles, belts, cowboy hats and more. Each one with the care and patience of a master craftsman. Hena Cuevas meets the unforgettable Al Shelton, now in his 80s he thinks.
EARTHQUAKE
If you think the Northridge quake was big, consider the really big one that struck along the San Andreas fault 150 years ago in January 1857. When the big one hits along San Andreas again and we're overdue it will cover an area 20 times the Northridge quake. Toni Guinyard talks to experts about the latest in earthquake findings.
CUBAN FAMILIES
For 47 years Cuban exiles have been waiting for regime change in their homeland. With Fidel's fragile health, change is imminent. But southern California's Cuban-Americans are not celebrating in the streets like their Miami cousins. Hena Cuevas met two Los Angeles families with deep connections to Cuba. How do they envision Cuba's future?
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Our movie watchers put in the time so you won't waste your dime.
MUSSEL-ING INTO OUR LAKES
A small mollusk that has created havoc in the lakes of Michigan has been found in the California aqueduct. It takes over and is virtually impossible to get rid of. It could spread to our lakes and reservoirs, unless state officials act quickly to stop it. Roger Cooper looks at ways to keep the Quagga mussel from getting out of control.
LIVING WAGE OR DYING BUSINSESS?
The L.A. City Council voted to require a group of hotels near LAX to pay a living wage about $10 an hour to its workers. The hotels say the City government can't dictate wages. We hear a lively kitchen table debate between a representative of business vs. low-wage workers, moderated by David Lehrer of CommUnity Advocates, Inc.
A SCULPTURE IN SEARCH OF RESPECT
A piece of public art in downtown L.A. has been described as "three wishbones in search of a turkey." Now, after years of neglect, can a refurbishing also polish up its reputation? Or is it doomed to getting dissed?
HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY?
Have you noticed how there are more and more greeting cards for more and more "special" occasions? Life & Times commentator Cris Franco takes a survey of the many greetings you can find these days at the drug store.
PROJECT WALK
We visit a remarkable place that claims it can get paralyzed people moving again people who have suffered serious spinal cord injuries. They say they achieve more movement than traditional rehabilitation approaches. How do they do it? Hena Cuevas went to Carlsbad in San Diego County to see for herself.
HIDDEN HEART DISEASE IN WOMEN
She was told she had little chance of getting heart disease. Then she had two heart attacks. Many doctors don't recognize heart disease in women. As Val Zavala reports, that is often because women can have perfectly clear arteries and still have cardiovascular disease. It took a woman's study to solve the mystery. Val Zavala meets one patient with hidden heart disease and the doctor who helped her.
WHOOPING COUGH ON THE RISE
We think of it as a children's disease from a bygone era. But now whooping cough or pertussis is resurfacing in teenagers and adults. As Toni Guinyard tells us that has prompted health officials to launch a vaccination campaign for the sake of individuals and the public.
HEALTHCARE POLICIES CANCELLED
It has been happening to a growing number of people with individual health plans. Companies like Blue Cross of California are cancelling policies and leaving patients with huge medical bills. Insurers say the patients failed to disclose previous illnesses. Patients say the companies are looking for technicalities to justify the cancellations. Sam Louie has the story of one woman who was left without coverage after an expensive operation.
IF WOMEN WERE A VILLAGE OF 100...
Six would own their own business. One would be homeless. And 28 are overweight. But women also outnumber men when it comes to college degrees. Val Zavala looks at some surprising findings in United Way's 2007 State of Women report.
10TH ANNIVERSARY FOR MUSEUM OF LATIN AMERICAN ART
The Long Beach art museum as grown by leaps and bounds since it opened in 1996. Museum director, Gregorio Luke, gives Val Zavala a peak at the amazing diversity and talent of modern Latin American artists.
HULA HOOPING REDUX
If you wait long enough, everything old will be new again. That is certainly the case for the hula hoop. Hena Cuevas checks out Hoopnotica, a combination workout dance class created and taught by Rayna McInturf who has updated the hula hoop for 21st century demands.
SALTON SEA SOLUTIONS
The Salton Sea may have been created accidentally, but does that mean it should be abandoned to environmental decay? Roger Cooper heads to this strange sea in the desert where scientists are trying to keep a unique ecosystem alive.
THE KITCHEN TABLE: THE NEW RACISM
Racism has changed forms over the decades, from lynching to suspicious looks. Is it still racism? We bring outspoken web TV host Pearl Junior together with conservative commentator Tomon Pearson for a provocative discussion around our kitchen table. Moderated by Joe Hicks from CommUnity Advocates.
DANIEL PEARL'S LEGACY
He was dedicated, talented and compassionate. He was also kidnapped by terrorists in Pakistan in 2002. His brutal murder was videotaped for the world to see. Daniel Pearl's father is an engineering professor at UCLA. How has he dealt with his son's death? Val Zavala talks with Judea Pearl who has vowed to "take revenge" with non-violence means.
MACARTHUR PARK TURNAROUND
A well-known park west of downtown Los Angeles was knows as a mecca for guns, drugs and gangs. Today it's going through a promising transformation. Jim Hill looks at how MacArthur Park was turned around.
AS BAD AS BAGHDAD?
Most middle class Angelenos are shielded from the violence in gang communities. But studies show that children in L.A.'s gang territory suffer post traumatic stress as serious as children in Baghdad. And public health officials have classified gang violence as a true "epidemic." Val Zavala talksl with attorney Connie Rice about a sweeping study calling for a Marshal Plan for gang neighborhoods.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Was the popcorn the best thing at the last movie you saw? Get the skinny from our film watchers and Larry Mantle from KPCC radio.
LIFE COACHES: BENEFICIAL OR BOGUS?
They are the latest tool in our our quest for success life coaches. There are an tens of thousands of life coaches in the U.S. charging as much as $200 an hour. Are they worth it? What kind of training and credentials do they have? Sam Louie looks at this new field and meets a man who turned his love of Christmas into a lucrative business, with the help of a life coach.
A $25,000 SURPRISE
Many say our teachers are under appreciated. This prize sets out to correct that. A Long Beach teacher went to school on a typical Tuesday and came home $25,000 richer. Val Zavala visits a middle school on the day the Milken Family Foundation rewarded English/Spanish teacher James Orihuela for his hard work.
PESOS ACCEPTED HERE
A pizza businessman expected his business to pick up when he started accepting pesos. What he didn't expect was the negative reaction. Val Zavala goes to Wilmington to talk with franchise owner Brett Fielder about his controversial business policy.
Tuesday's Life & Times was pre-empted by President's Bush's State of the Union Address.
BIRDS, EGGS, NESTS AND MORE
It's a little known institute in Camarillo where scientists are trying to save birds, many of them endangered, and they're doing so by looking into their DNA from as long as 400 years ago. As Paul Vercammen tells us, it's an attempt to save the future of these birds by delving into their past.
LIVES PER GALLON
The former head of California's EPA says that our addiction to oil impacts not just our wallets, but our health. What's more the hazards have been kept secret for years. Saul Gonzalez talks with Terry Tamminen, author of Lives Per Gallon.
BRANCHING OUT
Melrose Avenue is known for its avant-garde shops and stores, but one store has wrapped itself up in something so unusual that even regular shoppers stop and stare. It's enveloped in waves of twigs and branches. The artist is a former hospital administrator from North Carolina turned environmental sculptor, Pat Dougherty, who explains how he achievesl such stunning results.
WHO INVENTED THE POST IT?
Thomas Edison invented the light bulb and Alexander Graham Bell brought us the telephone, but what about more ordinary things like the zipper or the ballpoint pen? Life and Times commentator, Cris Franco, put his research skills to the test to bring us the story of one man who almost by accident invented the Post It.
BOONDOGGLES IN IRAQ
The United States has spent about $200 billion dollars a year in Iraq, nearly twenty-three million dollars every hour. And how many of those millions are doing what they're supposed to? The answer is not pretty. NewsHour correspondent, Jeffrey Kaye, reports that some of the worst construction projects in Iraq have been overseen by a company based here in Pasadena.
CARL SAGAN'S SEARCH FOR GOD
Although he died ten years ago, in many ways this remarkable astronomer is still with us. His latest incarnation comes in the form of a book, The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God. It is edited by his widow, Ann Druyan. Val Zavala talks with Druyan about how her late husband approached the search for God.
ORANGE COUNTY'S ART EXTRAVAGANZA
It's one of the most important art events in Orange County featuring works by more than thirty up-and-coming artists and it's a chance to see why California has been dubbed the creative capital of the world. Roger Cooper takes us to the Orange County Museum of Art for a look at the 2006 California Biennial.
BAN TRANS FAT?
It makes great French Fries and flaky pastry, but it can also raise cholesterol. That's why New York City has already banned trans fat (or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil) and the City and County of Los Angeles may do the same. But what are the drawbacks of rushing into a total ban? Hena Cuevas talks with LA's top health officer and a top chef to get some answers.
ROLLIN' ON THE RIVER
Could it be that the one of the better ways to see the Los Angeles river is from a car? That's just one of the tours you can take to get a closer look at one of L.A.'s forgotten features. You'll be surprised to learn it's not just a concrete channel. Joe Linton of Friends of the L.A. River tells us his favorite spots on the River and how to see them. (www.folar.org for info on tours)
SAVE OUR STARS
It's a species native to Southern California and vital to our economy. And it's endangered! But commentator Cris Franco has some suggesting of things we can all do to keep Celebrities from vanishing from our environment.
COMPENSATION FOR THE WRONGLY CONVICTED
Some have spent years in prison for crimes they didn't commit. Then they are released. Should these wrongly-convicted individuals receive financial compensation for the lost years? The law says yes. So why do so few receive it? Toni Guinyard tells us why.
DYING MIDDLE CLASS
How did southern California go from a thriving economy with a prosperous middle class, to an economy of haves and have-nots? Our kitchen table conversation explores the big changes that are shrinking our middle class, and what government and leaders can do to rebuild the middle, if they have the will.
CHRISTIAN COMICS
Yes, religion can be funny. And now an association of Christian comics is bucking the trend in stand-up comedy and offering laughs that don't rely on raunchy and racist jokes. But can they compete in this crude, rude world? Val Zavala talks with comedian and actor A.J. Jamal about how to make it as clean comic.
CONFLICTED OVER THE WAR
For most Americans the war in Iraq is a series of negative headlines. But for families with relatives fighting in Iraq, the President's call for 21,000 more troops is cause for worry. Roger Cooper met some families in Orange County who are feeling pulled between their personal opposition to the war, and supporting their loved ones in the war zone.
BROWN ON BLACK HATE CRIMES
Recent statistics on hate crimes in L.A. show that the most common hate crime is not between white and black or even white and latinos. Rather it is between Latinos and Blacks. And the killing of a 12-year-old black girl by Latino gang members in December is fueling the tensions. What's at the root of the prejudice against African-Americans? Does it start south of the border? Val Zavala talks with author and political analyst Earl Ofari Hutchinson.
THE BEAT GENERATION
Before the hippies claimed the spotlight, there was the Beat Generation. And no, they were not only in New York. Cafes from the sunset strip to Newport Beach were stages for L.A.'s beat generation. Vicki Curry talked with two pop culture historians at the site of a former beat hangout in Venice.
L.A. FIRE DEPARTMENT ON THE HOT SEAT
It started as a prank and has led to the resignation of a long-standing fire chief, public outcry, an anticipated trial, and a spotlight on L.A. Fire Department hazing that was supposed to have been quashed. Sam Louie takes a look at the events that started with a can of dog food.
PRESCRIPTION FOR A HEALTHIER NATION
Tommy Thompson, former Health and Human Services Secretary, is considering a run for president. He would like to make health care the number one issue. His first step putting the emphasis on prevention. He also has some interesting ideas about how medicine could improve U.S. relations with countries around the world.
FROM OUR VAULT: KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR
Retired Lakers basketball legend and NBA's all time hall of famer reveals untold stories from our past in a book he wrote, Black Profiles in American History.
MINING TOO CLOSE TO HOME?
Californians recently approved spending billions of dollars on bridges, roads and freeways, but they didn't realize the impact that would make on the suburban city of Santa Clarita. All that building will need a lot of cement and one huge cement company from Mexico has permission to mine near Santa Clarita. As Hena Cuevas explains, it's gotten the town up in arms and fighting back.
GLOBALIZATION AND WILDLIFE
We are familiar with how globalization can send jobs overseas. But globalization also has a major impact on wildlife, endangered species and habitats. Just what is that impact? Saul Gonzalez gets some answers from the head of the World Wildlife Fund, Carter Roberts.
SOLVING MYSTERIES FROM WWII
He runs his business out of his kitchen and loves it when a big Hollywood war picture comes out. That's because Bill Beigel is an expert at solving military mysteries, specifically how a loved one died in World War II or Korea. As Val Zavala found out he can uncover details that not even the military knows.
DO IT YOURSELF DIVORCE
It seems easy. A divorce without the trouble and expense of lawyers. But be careful. As Sam Louie tells us some people have discovered their divorces "didn't take."
THE MAYOR'S DEFEAT - NOW WHAT
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa doesn't lose many battles, but he lost a big one recently when a court ruled that his bid to takeover part of the L.A. school district was unconstitutional. Where does he go from here? Give up the fight? Or take it to the voters? Val Zavala gets an update from L.A. Times reporter Joel Rubin.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and his movie watchers help us separate the stinkers from the top dogs.
THE FIGHT OVER CELEBRITY PHOTOS
Who owns celebrities photos? Some bloggers are intercepting digitized photos and putting them on popular websites. But the photos were taken by paparazzi for a celebrity photo company. Hena Cuevas looks at the world of online celebrities' images and the legal battle that is brewing.
THE GOVERNOR'S HEALTH PLAN
In Governor Schwarzenegger's State of the State address he vowed to work to get every Californian insured. His proposal calls for everyone that is part of our health care system – doctors, hospitals, insurance companies, employers, and consumers – to pitch in. Val Zavala talks with health policy expert Richard Brown of UCLA who explains the key points and challenges.
80 YEARS OF HISTORY
Have you ever noticed that old tall building near downtown, south of the 10 Freeway called "Patriotic Hall"? Ever wonder what was inside? It turns out, there are decades of history, documents and memorabilia. But a possible renovation means it may have to sorted out. Vicki Curry digs through our rich past with former Marine Jay Morales.
DINOSAUR PARK EXTINCT?
The wonderful creatures in a children's park in San Gabriel were created by artist Benjamin Dominguez in the 1960s. But now modern safety codes could mean an end to the "dinosaur park" as it is called. Toni Guinyard visits the beloved playground and meets the son of the artist who is trying to save his father's work.
NANCY PELOSI PROFILE
Her father-in-law was a Congressman. Her brother was the mayor of Baltimore. But it is Nancy Pelosi who is making history as the first woman Speaker of the House. Spencer Michaels profiles this democrat from San Francisco who has won re-election eight times with more than 80% of the vote.
LOS ANGELES HISTORY IN PICTURES
Angelenos are famous for not knowing much of their own city's history. Now a new book puts memorable photos and great stories together. Val Zavala gets a photographic tour of L.A.s past from Jon and Nancy Wilkman, co-authors of Picturing Los Angeles.
PRE-SCHOOL TEACHER SCARCITY
Maybe part of the reason it's so hard to find quality day care is because it's so hard to find qualified pre-school teachers. You would think affluent cities like Santa Barbara would be an exception, but high housing costs only make matters worse. Paul Vercammen met one mother whose life is stressed because pre-school teachers are so scarce.
FORMER MARINE AND WEAPONS INSPECTOR SPEAKS OUT
He's a die-hard Republican, a former Marine Corp officer, a ballistic missile expert and a U.N. weapons inspector in Iraq. Scott Ritter also has some frank criticism of an administration that he says "has betrayed me personally and the country." Val Zavala talks with the author of Target Iran about his recommended plan for getting out of Iraq and how the Bush administration is eyeing Iran.
ANSEL ADAMS IN MANZANAR
Thousands of Japanese-Americans were interned in remote camps and forgotten, as WWII raged on. But photographer Ansel Adams did not forget these families. He took his camera to Manzanar and documented their plight, their lives, and their enterprising spirits behind barbed wire. Sam Louie goes to the Japanese American National Museum for a look at this remarkable exhibit.
HOMELESS VETS? NOT AGAIN.
Homeless vets from the wars in the Middle East are beginning to trickle in at a counseling center near the V.A. in Westwood. Will we treat this generation vets better than we did Vietnam vets? How do we avoid creating another wave of homeless veterans. Paul Vercammen goes to "New Directions" where the key is one generation helping the next.
THE ROOTS OF SEX ABUSE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
The L.A. Archdiocese agreed to pay $60 million in settlements to victims of sexual abuse by priests. But what was at the root of the problem? Val Zavala talks with David France author of Our Fathers: The Secret Life of the Catholic Church in an Age of Scandal. France, a former Newsweek editor and investigative journalist, argues that the Vatican's homophobia drove many priests to abuse youths.
THE WALT DISNEY WE DIDN'T KNOW
He's a household name, but how many of us really know who Walter Elias Disney was? Award-winning writer, Neil Gabler, was given unprecedented access to the Disney archives. The result is a book that will likely become the definitive biography of Walt Disney. Vicki Curry talked with Gabler at the Disney Studio in Burbank.
DRUGGING RACE HORSES
They use drugs – stimulants, anesthetics, legal and sometimes illegal – to enhance their performance and increase speed. We're not talking about runners or cyclists. This time it's race horses. More race horses fail drug tests in California than any other state. Roger Cooper has the story based on an investigative series by the Orange County Register.
DEBUNKING FOOD FEARS
Is fast food really the cause of obesity? What does "natural" actually mean? Why do we demonize and worship food? We have less to worry about than the headlines say according to USC sociologist, Barry Glassner, whose earlier book (Culture of Fear) debunked our exaggerated fears. Val Zavala talks with Glassner about his latest book, Gospel of Food.
FILMWEEK ON LIFE & TIMES
Larry Mantle and his critics check out Freedom Writers, Notes on a Scandal, Miss Potter and Pan's Labyrinth.
IRAQI VILLAGE IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DESERT
If you didn't know you were in southern California, you would swear you were in Iraq. As part of the training at Twenty-nine Palms, marines fight in a realistic Iraqi village, complete with Iraqi-American volunteers who play the roles of villagers. With more troops headed to Baghdad this kind of training is crucial. Reporter Sheryl Kahn looks at how the recruits are taking to "another country."
SHOULD THE MILITARY RECRUIT ON CAMPUS?
Some communities want to keep military recruiters out of their high schools. Should they have a right to block them? And some colleges and law schools say the military's discriminatory policies toward gays and lesbians should disqualify them from campus recruiting. The meeting of two attorneys one a vet, the other a gay activist makes for a most interesting kitchen table debate.
LEATHER IS HIS CANVAS
For decades he's been carving and decorating saddles, belts, cowboy hats and more, each one with the care and patience of a master craftsman. Hena Cuevas meets the unforgettable Al Shelton, now in his 80s he thinks.
HEALTHCARE POLICIES CANCELLED
It has been happening to a growing number of people with individual health plans. Companies like Blue Cross of California are cancelling policies and leaving patients with huge medical bills. Insurers say the patients failed to disclose previous illnesses. Patients say the companies are looking for technicalities to justify the cancellations. Sam Louie has the story of one woman who was left without coverage after an expensive operation.
IF WOMEN WERE A VILLAGE OF 100...
Six would own their own business. One would be homeless. And 28 are overweight. But women also outnumber men when it comes to college degrees. Val Zavala looks at some surprising findings in United Way's 2007 State of Women report.
10TH ANNIVERSARY FOR MUSEUM OF LATIN AMERICAN ART
The Long Beach art museum as grown by leaps and bounds since it opened in 1996. Museum director, Gregorio Luke, gives Val Zavala a peak at the amazing diversity and talent of modern Latin American artists.
BEGIN THE NEW YEAR – POLITELY
What? Southern Californians rude? Life & Times commentator Cris Franco takes an entertaining look at how we all might brush up on our manners in 2007.
STEVE LOPEZ TACKLES SKID ROW
He got swept into the lives of L.A.'s most wretched and forgotten. What he found was resilience, talent and hope. Toni Guinyard goes to skid row with award-winning L.A. Times columnist, Steve Lopez.
OLD VENICE UNDER ASSAULT?
Meet "Zuma Dog", an unforgettable resident of Venice who is trying to keep this unconventional beach town from conforming. Hena Cuevas looks at the feud between the unregulated vendors and conventional businesses. Will the old Venice survive regulation?
LEADING LABOR
She's in charge of the largest labor organization in L.A. County with more than 800,000 members and 350 unions. Val Zavala talks with Maria Elena Durazo, the new head of the L.A. County Federation of Labor, known for her feisty, combative style. How did she rise from field worker to powerful labor leader?
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