Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case of Aurora shooter James Holmes. We'll discuss the trial and its potential outcomes. We'll also consider mounting tension at Pasadena Community College and talk about the rules that prevent girls from playing flag football in the Foothill Football League. Later, we'll examine New York's new paid sick leave law, check in on updates to the military situation in North Korea, and speak with author Kenneth Cukier about big data and the information age revolution.
Prosecutors say 'justice is death' for Aurora shooter James Holmes
After rejecting a plea bargain offer from the attorneys of James Holmes that would have resulted in a life sentence, Arapahoe District Attorney George Brauchler announced he would be seeking the death penalty. Holmes is standing trial in last July’s movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado that left a dozen people dead and 70 injured.
Brauchler said he had conferred with victims of the shooting and relatives of those who died in making his decision; many of those victims who were present in the crowded courtroom this morning expressed relief, joy and satisfaction at the announcement. Holmes’ attorneys still have the option of pleading not guilty by reason of insanity, which if successful, could mitigate a death sentence.
Depending on how they plead, this case could go in many different directions, with Holmes ending up in an asylum, on Death Row, or cycling through years of appeals. But one thing is evident - resolution could still be many years off; a new judge has just been named to take over the case.
Does execution mean justice for the victims of Aurora? If you’re opposed to the death penalty on principal, does the egregiousness of this crime change your view? How would you want to see this trial resolved?
Guests:
Michael Muskal, Los Angeles Times reporter
Karen Steinhauser, criminal defense lawyer and adjunct professor at University of Denver Sturm College of Law; former prosecutor in the Denver District Attorney’s Office
Tensions mounting between faculty and administration at Pasadena City College
Pasadena City College President Mark Rocha has come under fire recently for backing the decision to cancel the college’s winter intersession on short notice. Students and professors were upset about the cancelled winter classes, which offered students the option to take a course for credit in only six weeks.
Rocha defended the cancellation, saying that removing this year’s winter intersession ensured that PCC could offer more courses than any other community college, but many students, teachers and administrators don’t see it that way and found the choice to cancel winter classes disadvantageous.
A no-confidence vote amongst faculty found that 92 percent of teachers are unhappy with Rocha, and outcry from students has been vocal as well – the student paper, the Courier, published several scathing articles about the incidents. The paper’s faculty advisor has since been put on administrative leave pending investigation into an undisclosed misconduct allegation. Meanwhile, PCC’s trustees have expressed their support of Rocha – his contract was recently extended through 2016.
How should PCC students, faculty, and administrators handle these problems? Is it Rocha’s responsibility to maintain a yearly schedule? Will the decision to cancel the winter intersession continue to have serious repercussions?
Guests:
Mark Rocha, Superintendent-President of Pasadena City College
Simon Fraser, president of Associated Students at Pasadena City College
Unnecessary roughness? Flag football team forced to forfeit for having girl player
The Sequoyah School in Pasadena is a small private school known for its progressive teaching environment, less so for its athletics. Yet, the school’s flag football team made it into the Los Angeles Times last week for its incredible winning streak.
They went 8-0 this past season but the team of junior high school students had to forfeit all of their wins because having a girl, 13-year-old Ella Wood, on the team is against the Foothill Sports League rules. Anthony Orona, the school's flag football coach, didn't realize the new rule until the season started.
"We're inclusive to everyone that wants to participate," said Orona on AirTalk. "The boys felt the same way and I felt the same way that she is part of the team and to have her not play just was not an option."
Girls were allowed to play on boys teams in the past, but this year the rules were changed to encourage the creation of a girls' flag football league. The problem, though, is that many schools don't have enough girls interested in playing to create their own teams. The Sequoyah School is attempting to form an all-girls team, but just two girls have signed up so far.
"Up until this year we actually did allow girls to play on the boys' flag football teams, and with that came some kind of awkward moments and we had to modify some blocking rules, but we didn't want to deny girls a chance to play," said Jill Cucullu, member of the Foothill Sports League. "We need the Ellas at all our schools to participate on their girls team, talk it up with their girls and get girls flag football started."
Cucullu says the decision not to allow girls was made well before the season start, and that Sequoyah's athletic director was at the meeting when the decision was made.
In flag football, Cucullu explains, the permissible block is two hands at an opponent's chest, often leading to awkward physical interaction on co-ed teams. In addition, if a school doesn't have enough interest for a full girls' team, combining with another school to create a team is an option. Orona says this is not an ideal option.
"That kind of goes against the whole idea of a school team," said Orona. "A lot of these kids want to play for their school. In athletics that's such a big part, playing for your school, the pride of your school and showing what your school represents."
Should girls and boys be allowed to play on the same teams? Why did the Foothill Football League decide against co-ed teams? Is football too much of a contact sport for girls and boys to play against one another? What if a boy wanted to play on a girls team?
Guests:
Jill Cucullu, Athletic Director at Bethany Christian School in Sierra Madre and a member of the Foothill Sports League
Anthony Orona, Sequoyah School’s flag football coach
Will paid sick days for all NYC workers move across the country?
New York City is set to pass legislation requiring thousands of companies to provide paid sick leave to their employees. City Council members struck a deal on March 28 to pass a measure that will kick in starting in April 2014, when businesses with 20 or more employees will be required to provide 5 paid sick days, while businesses under that size will be required to provide unpaid sick leave. By October 2015, the list of employers required to provide paid sick leave will include companies with 15 or more employees. Though mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to veto the measure, reports say the city council will have the two-thirds majority support it needs to override the veto.
Some California cities have passed similar legislation, but many more initiatives here have failed. Why? After a long fight over this in NYC, how did stakeholders reach a deal?
Guests:
Ken Margolies, Senior Associate of the Worker Institute at Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations
John Kabateck, Executive Director, California Chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business
Sharon Terman, Senior Staff Attorney & Director of the Work and Family Project; Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center based in San Francisco
North Korea names new premier, escalates nuclear tension
After a week of saber-rattling, North Korea has stepped up its bellicose rhetoric against South Korea and the United States. This weekend, the country announced that it is in a “state of war” with South Korea, and North Korea’s parliament voted to beef up its nuclear weapons arsenal.
At the same time, Pyongyang has named an economic reformer as its new premier. The U.S. sent F-22 stealth fighter jets to participate in annual U.S.-South Korean military exercises, meant to dissuade the North from making further threats. But the South appears to be shifting its position toward the North: The new South Korean president told her top military leaders to respond forcefully should North Korea attack.
On today’s show, Larry talks to North Korea expert David Kang at the University of Southern California on these latest developments coming out of North Korea.
Guest:
David Kang, Professor of International Relations and Business at the University of Southern California. He is also director of the Korean Studies Institute.
How the Information Age is changing everything
It’s a wonderful time to ask questions. The immense amount of information available through the internet has transformed data and data analysis. In their book “Big Data,” Viktor Mayer-Schömberger and Kenneth Cukier explore the concept of big data, the ability to consume and analyze vast collections of information and draw conclusions.
Big data is behind the idea that flights are cheapest on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, can tell you which color used car is in the best shape. It can also be used to predict or prevent disaster, and as our ability to utilize big data effectively grows, will impact business, health, education, and politics even more in the future.
How has big data transformed the way we approach and evaluate information? What will its impact be in years to come? Can this kind of analysis be dangerous, or have significant drawbacks? Kenneth Cukier joins Larry to speak about the revolution of big data and how it will affect our lives.
Guest:
Kenneth Cukier, Co-Author, “Big Data: A revolution that will transform how we live, work, and think;” Data Editor, the Economist, based in London