PETER JENNINGS AND THE DEMISE OF THE NETWORK NEWS; KING/DREW DOWNSIZING; GRIFFITH PARK MASTER PLAN; THE DIRECTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
PETER JENNINGS AND THE DEMISE OF THE NETWORK NEWS
Peter Jennings, the face of ABC News for decades, passed away yesterday at his New York home. He was 67. The urbane Canadian-born broadcaster announced in April that he had lung cancer. Along with Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather, Jennings was part of a triumvirate that dominated network news for more than two decades, through the birth of cable news and the Internet. Larry talks with Howard Rosenberg, former L.A. Times television critic, about Jennings' career and the future of the network news anchor.
KING/DREW DOWNSIZING
County health officials are recommending a roll-back of services at troubled King/Drew Medical Center. This would include the closure of patient care wards devoted to pediatrics, obstetrics and neonatology. County health officials are also recommending to the Board of Supervisors that the hospital's trauma center, which was closed down last fall, remain closed.
GRIFFITH PARK MASTER PLAN
On March 30, the city presented a new Master Plan for Griffith Park. The plan, which includes development of two aerial trams, several multi-level parking structures, and a commercial pier on the Los Angeles River, has received little press but plenty of grassroots opposition. Larry Mantle discusses the plan with Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge and Bernadette Soter, Chair of the Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council's Parks, River, and Open Space Committee.
THE DIRECTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
The Democratic Leadership Council has appointed Hillary Clinton to help the party find new direction and define its agenda for the 2006 and 2008 elections. Are Democrats going to take ideological cues from Republicans? Some say that's what's needed for them to regain power. Others say they need to distinguish themselves as much as possible from the Right. Larry talks with LA Times columnist Ronald Brownstein, pollster John Zogby, and the Democratic Leadership Council's Ed Kilgore. During this hour we also expect to hear from former Howard Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi and former Presidential candidate General Wesley Clark.