California May Get Chunk of Federal Stimulus Package; SAG Strike Averted?; Hillary Clinton's Senate Seat Replacement Chosen; FilmWeek
California May Get Chunk of Federal Stimulus Package
The State's economic situation has reached a new low, as December's unemployment rate hits 9.4%. But relief may be in sight. California may get $11 billion of the next federal stimulus package, which would help to close the State's $40 billion deficit. Larry talks about the news with Nancy Sidhu of the LA Economic Development Corporation, LA Times Sacramento Bureau Chief Evan Halper and State Finance Department spokeman H.D. Palmer.
SAG Strike Averted?
It looks like the The Screen Actors Guild will not proceed with a strike vote after the group Membership First and president Alan Rosenberg backed a plan to suspend the vote. Larry talks about the latest developments with SAG President Alan Rosenberg and entertainment attorney and blogger Jonathan Handel.
Hillary Clinton's Senate Seat Replacement Chosen
Hillary Clinton is now Secretary of State. The names Kennedy and Cuomo were bandied about to take her seat in the Senate. But in somewhat of a surprise move, New York Governor David Paterson will name Kirsten Gillibrand, a relatively unknown 42 year old congresswoman from upstate New York. Larry finds out more about her from Liz Benjamin of the New York Daily News.
FilmWeek
Larry Mantle and critics Wade Major of boxoffice.com and CityBeat and Henry Sheehan of henrysheehan.com discuss the week's new releases including "Inkheart," "The Lodger," "Donkey Punch," "Growing Out," "Prometheus Triumphant," and the re-release of "The Dark Knight." Then Larry gets an update on the Sundance Film Festival from Christian Science Monitor film critic Peter Rainer. Finally, he takes listener calls on this year's Oscar nominations.