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Hantavirus, D Line extension now open, your awkward puberty moments and more
A Spain's Guardia Civil boat sails next to Dutch flagged hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius in the port of Granadilla de Abona on the island of Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands on May 11, 2026.
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Jorge Guerrero
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AFP via Getty Images
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Jump to
- With hantavirus-hit cruise passengers stateside, a look at the risk to public health
- UK politics check-in: Labour sees massive losses
- A new book explores the legacy and influence of soap operas
- The tech sector is getting uniquely pummeled by layoffs
- The D Line is open — the first major step in Metro line extension
- Your most awkward puberty moment
Today's show: Austin Cross, filling in for AirTalk host Larry Mantle, discusses the latest with the spread of hantavirus, U.K. politics and what it says about international affairs, the history of soap operas, a spike in tech layoffs, Metro's D Line extension, and our most awkward puberty moments. Cross is LAist's local Morning Edition host and also hosts Friday AirTalk.
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With hantavirus-hit cruise passengers stateside, a look at the risk to public health
The topic:
A cruise with close to 150 crew members and passengers is at the center of an outbreak of a rare disease known as hantavirus. So far three people have died and others are seriously ill. Passengers now have evacuated from the cruise to their home countries. We check in on the kind of precautionary actions that will need to be taken to contain the disease now that the potentially-infected people are no longer isolated on a ship.
Context: Eighteen passengers are back in the U.S. Officials report that 16 of them are asymptomatic and are quarantining at the University of Nebraska. One person there is in a biocontainment unit. Two other former passengers are at Atlanta’s Emory University.
The risk: Health officials say the potential of a widespread outbreak is minimal, with the chief of the World Health Organization stressing this is “not another COVID-19.”
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Join the conversation: Do you have questions for the doctor? Call 866-893-5722.
Guest:
- Kimberly Shriner, director of Infectious Disease and Prevention at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena
UK politics check-in: Labour sees massive losses
British Prime Minister and Labour leader Keir Starmer speaks to supporters and councillors following local elections in London, England. Voters went to the polls last week in local elections across England. Results counted overnight show widespread losses for the Labour Party.
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Leon Neal
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Getty Images
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The topic:
After a strong 2024 election, the United Kingdom’s Labour Party has seen losses in power. Many strongholds for the party crumbled during last week’s council and parliamentary elections. Today, we check in on the outcomes of last week’s voting across the pond.
Labour’s losses: More than 1,000 seats lost in local councils across the U.K.
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Big gains: The right-wing party Reform U.K. and the left-wing Green Party saw the biggest gains in council seats across England.
Guests:
- Dan Bloom, U.K. politics editor for POLITICO
A new book explores the legacy and influence of soap operas
A new book of essays looks at soap operas and their long appeal.
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Pituk Loonhong/Getty Images
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iStockphoto
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The topic:
Co-authors Charlotte Druckman and Mayukh Sen join Austin Cross to discuss their new book of essays on soap operas Love in the Afternoon, and Evening
Last time: Soap operas are disappearing … with only a few left standing.
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To be continued… Do you have a favorite soap opera? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Guests:
- Charlotte Druckman, journalist and author
- Mayukh Sen, author and professor of film and television journalism at NYU
The tech sector is getting uniquely pummeled by layoffs
Cloudflare cut more than 1,100 jobs Thursday, joining BILL and Upwork in announcing major workforce reductions on the same day.
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Justin Sullivan
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Getty Images
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The topic:
Cloudflare cut more than 1,100 jobs Thursday, joining BILL and Upwork in announcing major workforce reductions on the same day. Tech companies have shed roughly 85,000 jobs so far in 2026, a 33% jump over the same period last year, even as overall U.S. layoffs are down by half.
Context: AI is being cited as the reason. Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas found AI was the top driver of layoffs in April for the second straight month, accounting for 26% of cuts.
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Yes, but: Skeptics say some of this is companies blaming AI for cuts they'd make anyway after pandemic-era overhiring. Indeed Hiring Lab notes software-developer postings have been flat to down since 2024, well before the current wave.
Another take: The four biggest hyperscalers plan to spend roughly $725 billion on AI infrastructure this year, up 77%. Layoffs may be less about AI replacing workers and more about freeing up cash to invest in AI infrastructure.
Guest:
- Dan Gallagher, columnist for The Wall Street Journal’s Heard on the Street, where he covers the technology and media industries
The D Line is open — the first major step in Metro line extension
The first phase of the Los Angeles Metro D Line extension opened Friday.
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Aurelia Ventura
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Courtesy LA Metro
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The topic:
The first phase of the Los Angeles Metro D Line extension opened Friday, meaning riders can now access three new stops along Wilshire Boulevard.
The new stops: The three new Wilshire Boulevard stops are located at La Brea and Fairfax avenues and La Cienega Boulevard. The first phase of the extension will stretch D Line service from downtown L.A. to Beverly Hills. Before now, the D Line ran to Koreatown, largely parallel to the B Line.
The state of metro: What are your thoughts on how Metro is faring? Do you have questions? Call 866-893-5722.
With files from LAist.
Guest:
- Kavish Harjai, LAist's transportation correspondent
Your most awkward puberty moment
What is something you were told or wish someone had told you when you were going through puberty?
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dtiberio/Getty Images
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iStockphoto
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The topic:
Chances are your first introduction with awkwardness occurred during puberty. This natural onset of hormonal, emotional and physical changes is something we've all felt on our path to adulthood, and it's a time with significant ups and downs.
Join the conversation: What was your most awkward moment during puberty? What is something you were told or wish someone had told you when you were going through puberty? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com
Live event: Brains On! is coming to LAist for a live event about puberty in the Crawford this Thursday. Get your tickets at LAist.com/events.
Guest:
- Cara Natterson, M.D., pediatrician, author, and founder of Less Awkward, a company designed to make puberty a less awkward, more joyful experience
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Today on AirTalk: Cybersecurity breach affects thousands of schools; what is the best advice from your mom? Food Friday; FilmWeek; and all the changes coming to the Oscars. -
Today on AirTalk: Ban on pretextual police stops? CA insurance commissioner’s race; TV Talk; and California gubernatorial candidates Steve Hilton and Matt Mahan. -
Listen to the full AirTalk episode for Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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