What to know about the killing of the powerful cartel leader ‘El Mencho’ in Mexico

What to know about the killing of the powerful cartel leader ‘El Mencho’ in Mexico

The Mexican army killed the country’s most powerful cartel leader and one of the United States’ most wanted fugitives, notching a major victory while cartel members responded with a wave of violence across the country. The killing Sunday of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes during an attempt to capture him in Jalisco state was the highest-profile blow against cartels since the recapture of former Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán a decade ago. Following Oseguera Cervantes’ death, security forces were placed on alert throughout the country as gunmen unleashed violence. Cars torched by cartel members blocked roads in 20 Mexican states. People locked themselves in their homes in Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest city and Jalisco’s capital, and school was canceled Monday in several states. The killing could give the government a leg up in its dealings with the Trump administration, which has been threatening tariffs or unilateral military action if Mexico does not show results in the fight against the cartels. But the long-term effect on Mexico’s security landscape remains unclear. Today on AirTalk, we check in with the latest on Mexico and what the fallout might be with Stephania Corpi, a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in Texas Public Radio, and Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, professor of policy and government at George Mason University.

With files from the Associated Press

What was it like growing up in an apartment in LA?

In Los Angeles, apartments aren't just for bachelors or young couples -- they're also abodes for entire families. While it may be less common in other parts of the country, it's not unusual for a family to get its start in an apartment and stay there until and after the kids turn 18. AirTalk's own Larry Mantle grew up in an apartment. So today on the program, we want to hear from you: what was it like growing up in an apartment? Looking back, how did that experience shape you? Where did you go to find a bit of alone time, if you felt you needed that? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or you can email us at atcomments@lasit.com.

What does California’s TK system mean for private preschools?

This year, California has introduced a new grade called transitional kindergarten or TK that will allow more younger kids in elementary school this year than ever before in the state. Transitional kindergarten is part of California’s ambitious plan to create the nation’s largest free early education program. The state describes TK as the first of a two-year kindergarten program to prepare children for the rigors of elementary school. In 2021, California passed a law that gave districts four years to make TK universal for 4-year-olds. With that comes its own set of challenges for schools that are trying to implement it, but also puts an entire sector of private preschools and daycares at risk of closure, as they struggle to compete with publicly funded free childcare that is now being provided by the state. Today on AirTalk, we are joined by Jeanne Kuang, California state capital reporter for CalMatters, who has been following the latest, along with Anna Markowitz, professor at the UCLA School of Education & Information Studies, to talk about the direct effects on families. We also want to hear from you! Have you enrolled your child in TK? Have you noticed any differences between public TK learning and private preschooling? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com. 

With files from LAist.

Has AI become sophisticated enough to perform tasks on its own?

Since the concept of artificial intelligence became publicized, many in the tech sector have made wide-sweeping claims of what AI will be able to do one day, including curing cancer. Much of this hype has been tied to the potential of AI agents, an autonomous system/software meant to achieve comprehensive tasks like writing reliable, complex code in days, as opposed to weeks. Given how reliant white-collar work, including tech jobs, is on real people, it’s still quite difficult to sift through what is likely to be changing soon and how it’ll impact each job’s workflow. Helping us to get into the current status of AI agents is Lila Shroff, assistant editor for The Atlantic, and Jessica Ji, senior research analyst with the Center for Security and Emerging Technology at Georgetown University.

SoCal History: How a desert race ignited a contentious debate

Beginning in the late 1960s and ’70s, the iconic Barstow-to-Vegas desert race became central to a bitter conflict over public land use and environmental protection. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) began denying permits and regulating off-road events to protect fragile desert soils, plants, and wildlife. This led riders to defy authorities, framing restrictions as an infringement on freedom and sparking what the author describes as early anti-environmental rhetoric and resistance. That clash helped shape wider debates about conservation versus recreation, contributed to alliances between off-road groups and anti-regulation movements, and left enduring impacts on both the landscape and how Californians think about public lands and environmental policy. Joining us today on AirTalk to discuss her op-ed in CalMatters on the subject is anthropologist Julie Sizek.