A Compton School board member wants the district to reverse its decision to allow campus police officers to carry AR-15 semi-automatic weapons. Also, how should the U.S. and Europe handle military and diplomatic actions against ISIL? Is bombing Syria a viable option, or is the situation too complicated? Then, college football kicks off tomorrow.
Should Compton campus police officers carry semi-automatic rifles?
A Compton School board member wants the district to reverse its decision to allow campus police officers to carry AR-15 semi-automatic weapons. When school was out-of-session this summer, the Compton Unified School District Board passed the new policy. Compton Unified Police Chief, William Wu, says the wish to arm campus police with such weapons is for safety reasons in case of a terrorist attack or mass shooting.
In a recent statement, Wu added, “These rifles give us greater flexibility in dealing with a person with bad intent who comes onto any of our campuses. The officers will keep the rifles in the trunks of their cars, unless they are needed. It should also be pointed out that many other community and school law enforcement departments already have these weapons.”
Some parents are expressing concern that children might feel scared about campus officers being armed with such weaponry. Some feel that Compton’s image is unfairly associated with violence, and this policy exacerbates that. Others feel that money that will go towards ammunition and training of these officers paid by the district, should be used for basic needs like books and nutrition. In your view, should Compton police be armed with these rifles? Should parents have more of a voice when it comes to these types of school board decisions?
Guest:
Paulette Simpson-Gipson, President of the Compton chapter, NAACP
How should the US handle military action and diplomacy in Syria?
In a press conference Thursday, President Obama discussed the escalating tensions in the Middle East and identified ISIL as a root problem or “cancer.”
But what got more attention was a comment he made later in response to a question about obtaining Congressional approval for military action against the group. "[T]here’s no point in me asking for action on the part of Congress before I know exactly what it is that is going to be required for us to get the job done," he said.
Despite earlier discussion about U.S. diplomats visiting the region and meetings with the national security council, when it comes to military action President Obama said Thursday that the U.S. doesn’t have a strategy yet. As ISIL continues attacks in Syria and Iraq, the conflict has demanded increased action from other nations.
How should the U.S. and Europe handle military and diplomatic actions against ISIL? Is bombing Syria a viable option, or is the situation too complicated to address in that manner?
Guest:
Joshua Keating, staff writer at Slate focusing on international affairs and author of The World blog
To hear this segment, click on "Listen Now" above.
Next huge Los Angeles restoration: The Arroyo Seco watershed?
Could the Arroyo Seco watershed be restored? For now, renewal is planned for where the Arroyo and LA River converge as part of the billion-dollar restoration plan for the LA River.
But what about the rest of the Arroyo Seco watershed - which spreads from the San Gabriel mountains to downtown Los Angeles? As it turns out, a study by the United States Army Corps of Engineers is currently being conducted with focus on one of its main missions: ecosystem restoration. The Army Corps recognizes how much was lost when rivers were channelized says Dr. Josephine Axt, Chief of Planning for the Los Angeles District of Army Corps of Engineers, and now she says, they want to be “creative with concrete” by bringing a 21st century sensibility intersecting engineering and ecology.
Teddy Roosevelt would likely be excited by the prospect. The story goes, when he visited the watershed in 1911 he said, “This Arroyo would make one of the greatest parks in the world.” What might be the immediate future of the Arroyo Seco?
Guest:
Tim Brick, Managing Director of the Arroyo Seco Foundation
Dr. Josephine Axt, Chief of Planning division for the Los Angeles District Army Corps of Engineers
Gauging the Bruins and Trojans’ prospects this college football season
College football season is finally here. Hometown teams and archrivals the Bruins and the Trojans are both title contenders this year. In their season openers this Saturday, the Bruins will face the Virginia Cavaliers, and the Trojans are up against the Fresno State Bulldogs.
The Bruins return with star Brett Hundley in the quarterback position, who's already being touted as a Heisman candidate. The Trojans have a new head coach in the form of Steve Sarkisian, erstwhile coach at the University of Washington.
This week, Sarkisian's team has made news for events that have little to do with their performance on the field. First, there is the news about Josh Shaw, who lied about how his ankle injury. On Thursday, senior running back Anthony Brown announced that he's quit the team and called Sarkisian a racist in an Instagram post.
Guest:
Vincent Bonsignore, sports columnist at the LA Daily News
Filmweek: “As Above So Below” “Cantinflas” “The November Man” and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Lael Loewenstein, Claudia Puig and Charles Solomon review this week’s releases, including “As Above So Below” “Cantinflas” “The Last of Robin Hood” and more. Film critic Peter Rainer will also join us from Westchester, New York to talk about the Montreal film festival. TGI-Filmweek!
As Above So Below:
Cantinflas:
The
The November Man
Guests:
Lael Loewnstein, film critic for KPCC and Variety
Claudia Puig, film critic for KPCC and USA Today
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC; author and historian for amazon.com
Peter Rainer, film critic for KPCC and the Christian Science Monitor
Eva Marie Saint talks Hitchcock, Brando and being a femme fatale
Angeleno, legendary actor and AirTalk fan Eva Marie Saint joins Larry to talk about her experience working with director Alfred Hitchcocks and leading men like Cary Grant and Marlon Brando. Saint is hosting this year’s Big Picture: Hitchcock! taking place this Sunday at the Hollywood Bowl. Audiences will be treated to a tribute to the classic films of Alfred Hitchcock and the haunting scores by Bernard Herrmann (Vertigo, North by Northwest), Dimitri Tiomkin (Strangers on a Train, Dial M for Murder) and more. The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra will perform the music live, under the direction of conductor David Newman.
Guest:
Eva Marie Saint, actor known for her roles in “North by Northwest” (1959) and “On the Waterfront” (1954). She is the host of The Big Picture: Hitchcock! at the Hollywood Bowl this Sunday, August 31, at 7:30 p.m.