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Grand Canyon flash flood, history of CA fast food, celebrating composer John Williams and more
View of the Grand Canyon from the El Tovar Hotel.
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Grand Canyon National Park
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Creative Commons on Flickr
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Jump to
- What we know about the flash flood in the Grand Canyon
- California Legislature adds limits to child sex abuse lawsuits
- SoCal History: Is California’s fast food empire crumbling?
- Bipartisan resistance to data centers and flock cameras
- 'E.T.,' 'Indiana Jones,' 'Jaws': Celebrating John Williams most iconic movie scores
- What are the TV habits that divide your household?
Today's show: AirTalk host Larry Mantle discusses the latest on Grand Canyon flash flood, history of fast food in Southern California, the bipartisan backlash around data centers and Flock cameras, celebrating composer John Williams and divisive TV habits in the household.
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What we know about the flash flood in the Grand Canyon
The topic:
State and federal officials ramped up efforts Monday to find around 15 people who are missing after a major flash flood swept through Grand Canyon, killing at least one person. Today on AirTalk, we look at the latest on the incident.
Background: Four “waves of rainfall” over two creek drainages during the weekend resulted in rapid, onset flash flooding, the National Weather Service said. The National Park Service says the area gets less than 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain per year on average. The first three waves of rain “primed the drainages and already had creeks flowing at minor levels” by the time a fourth wave arrived, the weather service said in a statement.
The latest: Weather forecasters warned rain and thunderstorms could bring more flooding to the popular tourist attraction from where scores of visitors were evacuated following the flood Saturday in Bright Angel Creek.
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Hotels shuttered: The deluge also destroyed the only water pipeline in the canyon, leading to emergency water restrictions for year-round residents. Tourists have been barred from staying at lodges and hotels inside the park.
With files from the Associated Press
Guest:
- Connor Greenwall, reporter covering aviation, transportation and infrastructure at KJZZ
California Legislature adds limits to child sex abuse lawsuits
The California State Capitol in Sacramento.
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Juliana Yamada
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AP
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The topic:
California’s Senate and Assembly have approved Senate Bill 577, which aims to limit the number of child sex abuse lawsuits being brought up against local governments and school districts, which have drained public coffers in recent years.
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Background: The bill aims to amend a 2019 law that removed the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. That bill has been blamed for draining city, and other local government entity budgets. L.A. County alone has agreed to settle more than 11,000 claims tied to the bill for $5 billion.
Go deeper: And learn how these claims weigh on L.A. County’s budget.
The compromise: Previous versions of this bill would have seen damage caps placed on claims, which childhood sex abuse survivor groups strongly opposed. However, plaintiffs over the age of 40 will now need to show “clear and convincing” evidence of their abuses, as well as showing that the entity had “actual knowledge” of the incident.
And: Attorneys who help file fraudulent sex abuse lawsuits can also face fines of up to $25,000 per violation.
Newsom’s next: the bill now goes to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, where it will potentially be one of the last bills he’ll sign in his time in state’s top job.
Guest:
- Maya Miller, CalMatters politics reporter
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SoCal History: Is California’s fast food empire crumbling?
The California based In-N-Out Burger in Jurupa Valley.
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Gina Ferazzi
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iStockphoto
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The topic:
California is the birthplace of many of America's favorite fast food chains including McDonald’s, In N Out, Carl’s Jr, Jack in the Box, Del Taco and Taco Bell — just to name a handful. Most started as small mom and pop joints that later grew to national franchises.
A taste of the past? But in recent years, the fast food empire that helped spur California's economy and identity has started to waiver. Prices have risen, customers' taste for healthier options have increased, and the cost of running a business in the state has gone up.
Join the conversation: How have your fast food habits changed over time? What are your memories of SoCal fast food growing up? Call (866) 893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
Guests:
- Gustavo Arellano, columnist for the Los Angeles Times, covering Southern California and author of Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America
- Jonathan Maze, editor-in-chief of Restaurant Business, a trade publication; he writes about restaurant finance, mergers and acquisitions and the economy, with a particular focus on quick-service restaurants
Bipartisan resistance to data centers and flock cameras
An aerial view of a 33 megawatt data center with closed-loop cooling system on October 20, 2025 in Vernon, California.
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Mario Tama
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Getty Images
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The topic:
The American political climate has been marked by a deep polarization over the last decade, characterized by stark ideological divides across media narratives, party affiliation and voter sentiments. But two issues — the proliferation of data centers and the rapid nationwide expansion of Automated License Plate Reader networks known as Flock cameras — have riled up voters and candidates across the aisle. Today on AirTalk, we are talking about what forces have aligned both parties on these issues.
Join the conversation: Do you have thoughts on flock cameras or data centers? How do these issues affect your support of political candidates or parties? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or email at atcomments@laist.com.
Guests:
- Khari Johnson, technology reporter for CalMatters
- Matt Dallek, a political historian and professor of political management at George Washington University
'E.T.,' 'Indiana Jones,' 'Jaws': Celebrating John Williams most iconic movie scores
Composer John Williams performs on stage at the Walt Disney Concert Hall opening gala on October 25, 2003 in Los Angeles, California.
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Carlo Allegri
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Getty Images
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The topic:
Composer John Williams has scored dozens and dozens of films, including many of the iconic adventure movies we grew up with -- Star Wars, Superman and numerous Spielberg movies, including E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jurassic Park and Jaws.
Tribute: Composer David Newman, who's scored over 110 films, earning an Academy Award nomination for his score to Anastasia, is conducting Maestro of the Movies: A Tribute to John Williams at the Hollywood Bowl.
Upcoming shows: Tickets to the film concert are available for 8 p.m. Sept. 4, 8 p.m. Sept. 5, and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6. Learn more here.
Guest:
- David Newman, Oscar-nominated film composer who has conducted the tribute concert to John Williams for more than a decade
What are the TV habits that divide your household?
How do you choose what to watch on TV when not everyone agrees?
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Choreograph (Konstantin Yuganov)
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iStockphoto
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The topic:
With the summer heat soldiering on, lounging in front of the TV might be all that you have the energy to do. But what happens when you have to share the remote? Today on AirTalk, we’re asking listeners how they handle their television disputes.
Decision fatigue: Having more options might sound like the solution for finding controller consensus, but, for some viewers, the endless selection process on streaming services has become yet another barrier to picking the perfect program.
Join the conversation: We want to hear from you! What are the differences between you and your partner when it comes to watching TV? What types of TV shows drive a wedge in your household? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or email at atcomments@laist.com.
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Today on AirTalk: Latest with Attorney General Rob Bonta, income disparities in relationships, Mokja, FilmWeek and remembering Tim Curry. -
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Today on AirTalk: Remembering Dolly Parton, college enrollment decline and the power of imagination.
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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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