North Koreans Fire Rocket; Iowa Legalizes Gay Marriage; Loan Modifications Fail to Stem Foreclosure Crisis; The Search for Living Planets; Mayor Announces Plans to Avert City Layoffs
North Koreans Fire Rocket
North Korea took another step in advancing its space program--or its ballistic missile program, depending who you ask--over the weekend with the firing of a three-stage rocket. Although the launch was only a partial success (reports are that the third stage failed) the United States and other western powers are trying to forge a strong response via the United Nations. So far, however, Russia and China are balking at a Security Council condemnation. Where does this leave the balance of power in North Asia?
Iowa Legalizes Gay Marriage
An Iowa Supreme Court ruling has legalized gay marriage in that state. Iowa joins Connecticut and Massachusetts and becomes only the third state to legalize gay marriage...well, except for California of course, which briefly legalized same-sex marriage before Prop. 8 repealed it. The Iowa case began in 2005 when New York-based gay rights organization Lambda Legal filed suit on behalf of six gay couples who were denied Iowan marriage licenses. What does it mean now that a state in the nation's heartland has recognized gay marriage?
Loan Modifications Fail to Stem Foreclosure Crisis
A new report shows that Barack Obama's loan modification program has, so far, failed to stop the growth of foreclosures. The report, which was released Friday by the federal government, shows that most loan modifications have reduced monthly payments by less than 10%. It also showed that over one-quarter of loan modifications actually resulted in higher monthly payments. At the same time delinquencies continue to increase. Is it time for a new strategy?
The Search for Living Planets
Alan Boss, author of "The Crowded Universe: The Search for Living Planets" (Basic Books; February 2009), tries to answer the age-old question, are we alone? Boss argues that life is not only possible elsewhere in the universe but that it is common.
Mayor Announces Plans to Avert City Layoffs
Larry Mantle talks with KPCC reporter Frank Stoltze about Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's news conference this morning in which he discussed his plan to avert layoffs due to a major budget shortfall.