Anthrax Mailings Mystery Ending; LA Unified Puts $7 Billion Bond on Ballot; FilmWeek
Anthrax Mailings Mystery Ending
Federal prosecutors investigating the 2001 anthrax attacks were planning to indict and seek the death penalty against a top Army microbiologist in connection with anthrax mailings that killed five people. The scientist, who was developing a vaccine against the deadly toxin, committed suicide this week. Larry Mantle talks about the development with NPR's Justice Reporter Ari Shapiro and retired FBI special agent Randy Parsons.
LA Unified Puts $7 Billion Bond on Ballot
The Los Angeles Unified School District board voted Thursday to put a school repair and construction bond proposal on the Nov. 4 ballot. Voters have already approved more than $13 billion in school construction bonds since 1997, including nearly $4 billion in 2005. District officials said they need about $60 billion more to address all their construction needs. If approved, the measure would increase property taxes by an average of $33.69 per $100,000 of assessed value annually from 2013 to 2044. Larry talks with KPCC reporter Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, LAUSD President Monica Garcia, Parent Collaborative Chairman Bill Ring; UTLA President A.J. Duffy and California Charter Schools Association President Caprice Young.
FilmWeek
Larry and critics Lael Loewenstein of Variety and Peter Rainer of the Christian Science Monitor review some of the week's new feature films including "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," "Swing Vote," "Frozen River," and the Czech film, "Beauty in Trouble." Then, Larry takes listener calls on guilty cinematic pleasures. Finally, he speaks with Laura Winter, co-director of the documentary "Baghdad High."