A new House Republican drought bill could greatly impact the central valley. The State Department released a new report that says the Keystone XL Pipeline would not significantly impact carbon pollution. Should the US allow construction of the Pipeline? Later, Oscar nominated production designer KK Barrett joins Larry in-studio to discuss bringing "Her" to life.
House GOP drought bill to have huge impact on Central Valley, CA environmental causes
Water is at the forefront of many Californians' minds these days, but coming up with the best way to solve our current crisis has quickly turned into a political battle between competing water interests.
A drought bill backed by House Republicans is being fast-tracked for a vote tomorrow. H.R. 3964, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act authored by Representative David Valadao of Hanford (R-CA21), seeks to provide more water to farmers in the Central Valley, at the expense of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program.
California Secretary of Natural Resources John Laird, a vocal opposition to the bill, has characterized the bill as favoring "some interests over others in a different part of the state, in the middle of this great water emergency … is not helpful." Governor Brown has labeled H.R. 3964 as "divisive."
Guests:
Kitty Felde, KPCC Washington correspondent
Nick di Croce, Co-Facilitator, Environmental Water Caucus, caucus of more than 30 grassroots organizations with a common interest in CA water issues.
Patrick Cavanaugh, Broadcaster, California Ag TODAY
Should the US allow construction of the Keystone XL pipeline?
A new report from the State Department released on February 1 says that the controversial Keystone XL pipeline would not significantly worsen carbon pollution. The State Department findings potentially pave the way for President Obama to make a decision about the expansion of the TransCanada pipeline.
The project would pipe oil extracted from tar sand through six states - 1,700 miles - to refineries in Texas. The State Department report concludes that the impact to carbon emissions is not significant compared to the emissions already coming from extraction and rail transport.
Environmental groups argue that the pipeline, even with several thousand data points and advanced mechanisms for halting the flow of oil, could have serious negative impacts on the sensitive areas surrounding the route.
Pipeline proponents argue that extraction will occur with or without the pipeline due to high demand for oil and emphasize the importance of job creation. Energy companies are already transporting crude oil by rail.
What would the Keystone XL pipeline do to nearby communities? Is this the most economically viable and efficient plan? Which energy sources should the U.S. be investing in?
Guests:
Andrew Restuccia, Energy Reporter for POLITICO
Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, Director of the International Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council
Cindy Schild, Senior Manager of the Refining and Oil Sands Programs at the American Petroleum Institute
Should identities of police officers involved in shootings be kept secret?
The California Supreme Court is set to consider an appeal next month that will determine whether the names of police officers who have been involved in shootings should be disclosed to the public.
The case goes back to a 2010 incident when Long Beach police officers shot and killed an intoxicated, unarmed man who was carrying a garden hose nozzle that officers mistook for a gun.
A Los Angeles Times reporter filed a public record's request to find out the names of the officers involved in the shooting. The city originally agreed to turn over the names but the Long Beach Police Officers Association sued to keep the names confidential.
The union said it was concerned about officer safety after an anonymous online blog post threatened one of the officer's families. Since then, both the group known as "Anonymous" and "Occupy Long Beach" have posted the names, addresses and cell phone numbers of 6 police officers including the two officers involved in the Long Beach shooting.
Should the public know the identities of officers involved in police shootings? How can the officers safety be protected if their identities are public knowledge? Does the public have a right to know which police officers are involved in investigations or disciplinary proceedings?
Guests:
Michael Payman Kade, an attorney in Los Angeles with the Law Offices of Michael Payman Kade.
Peter Bibring, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Southern California.
Tour bus safety, a year after the deadly crash in San Bernardino
A year after a tour bus crash near Yucaipa killed 8 passengers, the safety regulations for California tour buses have not changed.
These mass transportation vehicles often operate without meeting safety standards, but regulatory agencies have not been able to increase regulation of these buses that often ferry people to nearby casinos.
A KPCC investigation found the California Highway Patrol didn’t always have the lists from the federal government or state regulatory agencies of businesses that have safety violations and shouldn’t be operating buses. Another, snag in beefing up inspections is in 2005 Congress banned surprise roadside safety inspections.
RELATED: UPDATE: Feds inspecting bus in Yucaipa crash that was cited 4 times in 2 years for safety hazards
In light of the many tour bus accidents, what can be down to ensure the safety of passengers? How can regulatory agencies be streamlined, so future accidents can be avoided? What are the obstacles agencies are facing in making these vehicles safer?
Guests:
Ben Bergman, KPCC Business reporter
Joel Grover, NBC4 Reporter
Will work for gifts: How one web designer walked away from being paid
A fair day's work for a fair day's pay - but should your wages always come in monetary form?
Two years ago, web designer, Adrian Hoppel stepped away from corporate America and decided to be paid in 'gifts'; no harsh negotiation process, no bidding wars, no contracts. Working with nothing more than a verbal agreement, Adrian takes on projects and on completion, customers pay him what they believe is fair, in cash or other gifts, such as soccer camps for his children or a bottle of good Scotch.
Unlike traditional work models, Hoppel assumes all of the risk, but to date all of his clients have generously compensated him for his time. If you could be paid in anything other than money, what would it be? If you're a business owner, have you tried working for gifts? How did it work?
Guest:
Adrian Hoppel, web designer and Gift Economy advocate
How Oscar nominee KK Barrett designed a futuristic LA for 'Her'
Spike Jonze’s Oscar-nominated movie "Her" has garnered attention for its striking depiction of the not-so-distant future.
Set a few decades from now in a plausibly futuristic Los Angeles — with a denser skyline and better public transit system — "Her" tells the story of a man (Joaquin Phoenix) who falls in love with a sentient computer operating system, the disembodied voice of Scarlett Johansson.
Jonze and production designer K.K. Barrett worked together to craft a milieu where such a relationship seems possible: a minimalist high-rise apartment, downtown walkways, the retro phone-device Phoenix’s character uses to direct his technology.
The carefully constructed world intrigues but does not distract — keeping viewers focused on the human drama that drives "Her" — instead of its sci-fi elements.
Barrett has worked with Jonze in the past, bringing the imaginative world of Maurice Sendak’s children’s book to life in “Where the Wild Things Are” and designing the inside of John Malkovich’s mind in “Being John Malkovich.”
On Tuesday's AirTalk, Barrett tells Larry Mantle how he helped bring this tale of romance in the age of A.I. to life and the steps he took to fashion a near-future within imagination.
Take a look at the "Her" clip below to get just a taste of Barrett’s design.
Guest:
K.K. Barrett, Oscar-nominated production designer of director Spike Jonze’s “Her;” Barrett’s production design credits also include “Lost in Translation,” “Being John Malkovich,” “Where the Wild Things Are,” “Marie Antoinette” and more.