The Parks Forward Commission is working toward securing more funding to the 1.6 million acres of state parks throughout California. Also, ahead of what will likely be the most expensive election seasons in history, Mitt Romney announces he won't be running for the 2016 presidential election. Then, critics weigh in on the winners and losers at Sundance 2015.
Report: Attracting new and diverse visitors key to future of California state parks
A report released today from the Parks Forward Commission calls for a “fundamental transformation” of the state park system that the panel hopes will secure more funding and attract new visitors to the 1.6 million acres of state parks throughout California.
Key recommendations from the report include creating a statewide non-profit organization that would help bring in more funding for projects within the state parks. It also says that park access should be expanded to help attract new and more diverse types of visitors.
Getting the funding necessary to go through with these improvements is easier said than done. Governor Jerry Brown’s budget has set aside $16.8 million to keep the state park system running at its current level.That doesn’t include another $20 million earmarked for overdue maintenance, and even that is just a small portion of the total bill of more than $1 billion.
Do the recommendations from Parks Forward set the state park system on the right track? What else can be done to bring new visitors to California state parks?
Guests:
Manuel Pastor, Ph.D., member of the Parks Forward Commission and professor of American Studies and Ethnicity at USC.
Carolyn Christian, president of the California League of Park Associations (CALPA)
Jose Gonzales, founder of Latino Outdoors, a group that works to change the narrative of how Latino communities connect with the outdoors
Michael Woo, Dean, College of Environmental Design at Cal Poly Pomona
Pew survey: Most people believe in science, just not on big, controversial issues
The Disneyland measles outbreak has spread to eight states and infected over 90 people so far. The link between vaccines and autism has been disproved by science, yet the number of parents who leave their children unvaccinated over safety concerns continue to rise.
It’s a prime example of the chasm between what science believes and what society believes. And according to a new Pew survey, that opinion gap extends to other big topics, including the safety of genetically modified foods, the seriousness of climate change, and evolution, despite the fact that most respondents polled think science is making our lives better. Why does such a gap exist?
Guest:
Cary Funk, Associate Director of Research at the Pew Research Center. She is one of the authors of the new report, “Public and Scientists’ Views on Science and Society”
No 2016 run for Romney
It was the conference call heard ‘round the world. This morning two-time presidential hopeful Mitt Romney hopped on the line with supporters to say that he will not pursue the the oval office in 2016, declaring that he had decided it would be “ … best to give other leaders in the party the opportunity to become the next nominee.”
The call puts an end to three weeks of speculation that the former Massachusetts governor was pondering the presidency. While a recent Fox News poll declared Romney to be the early GOP front-runner, many donors didn’t agree, defecting from his campaign to support Jeb Bush. Speaking to his supporters this morning, Romney spoke of the party’s need for a fresh leader saying, “I believe that one of our next generation of Republican leaders, one who may not be as well-known as I am today, one who has not yet taken their message across the country, one who is just getting started, may well emerge as being better able to defeat the Democrat nominee.”
With Romney now out of the race, the GOP’s top candidates are now Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio and Scott Walker, with aspirants Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Ben Carson and Mike Huckabee representing the more conservative side of the party.
Though Romney was favored by voters on both sides of the political field, party leaders and big donors were both reluctant to back another presidential run. The conservative billionaire Koch brothers recently hosted a meeting in Palm Springs to discuss their plans to spend $889 million on the 2016 election, appearing to give a nod to Marco Rubio. In what is certain to be one of the most expensive election seasons in history, it seems that donors will really determine the outcome of the race.
Why do you think Mitt Romney chose not to run again? What role did the donors play? Will donor dollars determine who the next GOP and DNC candidates will be?
Guest:
Jose Del Real, political reporter for the Washington Post
Filmweek: 'Black or White,' 'Project Almanac,' 'The Loft' and more!
Larry and KPCC film critics Lael Loewenstein and Tim Cogshell review this week’s releases including "Black or White," "Project Almanac," "The Loft," and more. TGI-Filmweek!
Guests:
, film critic for KPCC and Alt Film Guide
Lael Loewenstein, film critic for KPCC and Variety
Sundance 2015: Film Reviews and Deal News
Festivities in Park City, Utah are cooling down now that most Sundance films have hit the big screens and festival goers are leaving town. Was there a "Boyhood" among the movie premieres?
With every passing year the independent film festival, created by Robert Redford, has gained attention and credibility for movies that will go on to critical and commercial success. On the feature side of things, titles getting attention include "Sleeping With Other People" - a romantic comedy about sex addicts starring Alison BRie and Jason Sudeikis.
On the documentary side, acclaimed filmmaker Alex Gibney's new project is based on the book "Going Clear" - an investigation of the Church of Scientology by Lawrence Wright. What films are you keen on? How many deals were made at Sundance this year?
Guests:
John Horn, Host, KPCC’s “The Frame”
Amy Nicholson, in Park City, film critic for KPCC and Chief Film Critic, “LA Weekly”
Claudia Puig, film critic for KPCC and USA today