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George Lucas museum opens, new laws on AI data centers, Sonja Shaw on superintendent race and more
The long-awaited Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Exposition Park is open to the public.
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The Lucas Museum
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Today's show: AirTalk host Larry Mantle discusses the Lucas Museum, O.C. Supervisor District 4 race with Tim Shaw, favorite nontraditional museums, new AI data center laws, State Superintendent race with Sonja Shaw and a new book on California's fisheries.
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George Lucas’s museum opens its doors today in Exposition Park
The topic:
Exposition Park’s new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens to the public today. Today on AirTalk, we look at how the museum is being received, its place in the art world, and what exactly “narrative art” really is.
What’s inside: The museum’s umbrella of “narrative art” encompasses fine art like these works from painter, pro-football player and actor Ernie Barnes, photographer Dorothea Lange, and comic book artist Rafael Navarro
The building: The 300,000-square-foot building, designed by architect Ma Yansong, working with the firm Stantec, could easily blend into the scenery of Coruscant or Bespin in the Star Wars universe.
- Location: One Lucas Plaza, Exposition Park, Los Angeles
- Tickets: Timed tickets cost $25 for adults, $21 for seniors and are free for minors, active-duty military members and LM37 passholders. See your options ▶
- Park access: Free
- Regular hours:
Mon, Wed, Thu: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Fri: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sat: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sun: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed Tuesdays
With files from LAist
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Guests:
- Philip Kennicott, Pulitzer Prize-winning culture critic for The Washington Post
- Mary McNamara, culture columnist and critic for the Los Angeles Times
OC Supervisor District 4 candidate Tim Shaw
Tim Shaw is running for OC Supervisor District 4.
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John McGuire
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Courtesy Tim Shaw
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The topic:
The O.C. Supervisor race for District 4 is a tight race between Buena Park Mayor Connor Traut and O.C. Board of Education trustee Tim Shaw. Both have never served on the Board of Supervisors before, but each has had decades-long experience working in local government positions. Current Supervisor Doug Chaffee, is termed out — if Shaw wins, it could turn the board to majority Republican.
Shaw’s background: Shaw has served on the O.C. Board of Education since 2020. He was mayor of La Habra in 2012 and 2018 and served on the City Council for more than a decade.
Top issues: Shaw is running on his track record of fiscal efficiency and transparency, which he says is a strength in his role with the O.C. Board of Education. He is also promising to improve public safety and create more affordable housing.
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Guest:
- Tim Shaw, candidate for O.C. District 4 supervisor, he’s currently government affairs director for the Pacific West Association of Realtors and president and trustee of the O.C. Board of Education representing its 4th District, which includes Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, portions of Garden Grove, La Habra, La Palma, Stanton, and portions of Westminster.
Favorite nontraditional museums
The Museum of Jurassic Technology in the Palms district of Los Angeles, California.
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Sascha Pohflepp
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Wikimedia Creative Commons
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The topic:
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is not your typical art museum, combining high and low art, prestige and fandom. But some of the best museums are ones that push the boundaries of what we expect to see collections of. Think of the Bunny Museum in Altadena or the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City.
Join the conversation: We want to hear from you! What is your favorite nontraditional museum? Maybe it was a warehouse filled with old cars or a collection of bobble heads. What was the strangest collection of items you saw there? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Newsom signs 7 bills centered on AI data centers
A data center in Quincy, Washington.
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Megan Farmer
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KUOW
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The topic:
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed seven state bills on Monday, all centered on AI data centers. Their focuses range from water and electricity usage to overall environmental standards. Today on the show, we break down the laws.
Electricity usage: SB 886 and 2383 require the California Public Utilities Commission to set rates for data center usage for the companies to help avoid impact on the state’s residents.
Water usage: SB 2469 looks to require developers to disclose how much water they’re using, which has been one of the biggest contentions for AI data centers.
Guest:
- Guy Marzorati, California politics correspondent for KQED, who's been following this
Sonja Shaw makes her case for state superintendent
Sonja Shaw is running for Superintendent of Public Instruction.
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Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters
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The topic:
President of the Chino Valley School Board, Sonja Shaw has been an outspoken opponent of protections for transgender students. She made headlines in 2023 when she presided over a school board meeting where State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond was escorted out during a debate over transgender student rights. Shaw also supports a shift away from “radical ideologies” in the classroom and a return to the academic basics. Today on AirTalk, we talk with Shaw about her bid for state superintendent.
What’s at stake? Local school districts in California largely control budget and curriculum decisions, leaving the state’s superintendent with limited authority. The state is now considering shifting some of the office’s responsibilities to the governor-appointed State Board of Education, shrinking the role even further. Still, the new superintendent will have a statewide platform to promote policies and a record $150 billion budget for nearly 6 million public school students. The office is nonpartisan.
Learn more about the state superintendent’s race through our Voter Game Plan.
Guest:
- Sonja Shaw, president of the Chino Valley School Board and candidate for State Superintendent
A look at the history of California’s fisheries
How have California’s fisheries evolved over time? We talk with the author of a new book.
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Ricardo Mazalan
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AP
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The topic:
The California coastline is a living, ever-evolving ecosystem that is routinely enjoyed by humans, and also a home to many animals and plants. But the coastline we see today isn’t the same one those living in the past saw, and how it has changed over the years has been heavily influenced by the fishing industry.
The book: Tin Can Coast: A History of Industry, Greed, and Fishing in the Golden State looks back at how California’s fisheries have evolved over time, and how the fishing industry has reshaped the coastline and its wildlife.
Guest:
- Joseph Ogilvy, chef and author of Tin Can Coast: A History of Industry, Greed, and Fishing in the Golden State (Bloomsbury, 2026)
-
Today on AirTalk: Paramount settles, Newsom AI panel, history of Spanish missions, federal reserve hike, OC Supervisor Katrina Foley and relationship advice from parents. -
LAist sat down with the general manager of Keno's Restaurant in Anaheim Hills, where you can find a 15-pound burrito or a 32-ounce Tomahawk steak. -
Today on AirTalk: Ed Sheeran controversy, getting back with exes, Keno’s Restaurant, FilmWeek and TIFF's biggest releases.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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