Death Of Otis Chandler; State GOP Conference; San Onofre Tollway Riles Locals; South Dakota Crusade Against Roe V. Wade; Are We Born To Be Religious?
Death Of Otis Chandler
Otis Chandler, the former publisher of the Los Angeles Times who transformed his family's provincial, conservative newspaper into a respected national media voice, died early Monday at his home in Ojai. He was 78. Chandler, who suffered from a degenerative brain disorder known as Lewy body disease, was the scion of a family that wielded financial and political power in the Los Angeles area for decades. As publisher, he spent most of his career chafing against what he sensed was an East Coast bias against Los Angeles and fought to elevate the Times to a par with Eastern rivals. Larry talks with members of the media who knew and worked with Otis Chandler. Guests include Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times columnist, and Jonathan Kirsch, Contributing Writer to the L.A. Times Book Review, has written for the Times since 1968, author of 11 books primarily on the history of religion, and publishing attorney.
State GOP Conference
At the annual State GOP conference over the weekend, The California Republican Party sought to defuse criticism of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and rally support from a divided membership at the start of a pivotal election year. Larry talks with Kevin McCarthy, Republican State Assemblyman representing California’s 32nd district, and Mike Spence, President of the California Republican Assembly.
San Onofre Tollway Riles Locals
Directors of Orange County's toll road agency on Thursday approved construction of a six-lane, 16-mile tollroad through San Onofre State Beach--a popular coastal park. After extensive study, including a $17-million environmental review, board members for the Transportation Corridor Agencies in Irvine voted 12 to 3 to approve the route for the Foothill South extension, which should open by 2011. The projected cost is $875 million. The tollway would begin at Oso Parkway in Rancho Santa Margarita and connect with the I-5 at Basilone Road south of San Clemente. Larry talks with supporters and opponents of the project. Larry talks with Ken Ryan, Chairman of the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency, and James Birkelund is a staff attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council.
South Dakota Crusade Against Roe V. Wade
South Dakota lawmakers approved a ban on nearly all abortions Friday, setting up a deliberate frontal assault on Roe v. Wade at a time when some activists see the U.S. Supreme Court as more willing than ever to overturn the 33-year-old decision. The bill would make an exception to save the life of the mother. However, it makes no exceptions for rape or incest. It is now sitting on the governor’s desk. Republican Gov. Michael Rounds said he was inclined to sign it into law. Larry talks with Cara Hetland, Minnesota Public Radio Reporter with KRSD, based in Sioux Falls, Roger Hunt, representative in the South Dakota state legislature, Amy Everitt, State Director of NARAL Pro-Choice California, and Daniel McConchai , Vice President of Americans United for Life.
Are We Born To Be Religious?
For a growing number of people, there is nothing more important than religion. It is an integral part of their marriage, child rearing, and community. In his new book, author Daniel C. Dennett takes a hard look at this phenomenon and asks why. Where does our devotion to God come from and what purpose does it serve? Is religion a blind evolutionary compulsion or a rational choice? In Breaking the Spell, Dennett argues that the time has come to shed the light of science on the fundamental questions of faith.