Morales Execution Delayed Indefinitely; Gold Line Express Causes Distress; The Supreme Court Takes Up Partial-Birth Abortion; “Courbet and the Modern Landscape” Exhibit at the Getty
Morales Execution Delayed Indefinitely
In an unprecedented turn of events, the execution of convicted murderer Michael Morales has been delayed, pending a formal hearing on the constitutionality of California’s execution procedures. Larry Mantle speaks with: Mort Borenstein, an Executive Committee member and former chair of the LA County Bar Association’s Indigent Criminal Defense Association; Jean Rosenbluth, a USC law professor and former Federal Prosecutor at the US Attorney’s office in Los Angeles; and Dr. Marcy Zwelling, the immediate Past President of the Los Angeles County Medical Association and a former emergency room physician, about the legal and medical considerations involved.
Gold Line Express Causes Distress
Two years ago, the MTA opened its Gold Line light rail system from Pasadena to downtown LA. Ridership has never reached projections, and at 16,300 weekday boardings, it remains the weakest link in LA’s rail network. One of the main criticisms is the train’s slow speed. In response, MTA has introduced express service, which only makes four stops. The train is still required to slow significantly at many points along the line, in part due to regulations from the Public Utilities Commission, and in part to address noise concerns from residents along the line. The express service also comes at the expense of local service, and now riders at local stations have longer waits for a train. Larry talks with Gerald Francis, head of MetroRail operations, about what’s being done to improve Gold Line service, and Rick Cole, a former Mayor of Pasadena, who brings background on the development and history of the Gold Line.
The Supreme Court Takes Up Partial-Birth Abortion
The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to take up the constitutionality of a federal ban on partial-birth abortion. Larry talks with John Eastman, Professor of Law at Chapman University School of Law and Erwin Chemerinsky, Professor of Constitutional Law at Duke University School of Law, about the case.
“Courbet and the Modern Landscape” Exhibit at the Getty
Larry Mantle talks with Mary Morton and Charlotte Eyerman, curators of the Getty Museum’s new Gustave Courbet exhibit which runs through May 14th. The Museum is presenting 46 landscape paintings by the 19th century French artist, whose bold, impressionistic style shook the Paris art establishment and planted the seeds of the Modernist painting movement.