State Budget Deadlock; Orange County Journalist "Roundtable"; The New Staples Center Projects; James Rogan: From Welfare to Washington
State Budget Deadlock
The state of California is two weeks into the 2004-2005 fiscal year, and signs are mixed that a deal will be struck anytime soon. Larry Mantle talks with Assembly Budget Committee Chair Darrell Steinberg, and Assembly Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy about what progress have been made on the budget, and what sticking points remain.
Orange County Journalist "Roundtable"
Larry Mantle talks with Orange County journalists Chris Reed, Orange County Register op-ed column editor, Jean Pasco, Los Angeles Times staff writer, and Gustavo Arellano, Staff Writer for the OC Weekly, about the latest news events and developments in Orange County.
The New Staples Center Projects
A company controlled by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz is expected to announce that it is ready to start work on a $1-billion commercial development around Staples Center in Los Angeles that would include a long-awaited hotel to serve the city's convention center. One thorny issue remains to be resolved: The developers are asking for financial assistance from the city to help make the hotel pencil out. Civic leaders including Mayor James K. Hahn have said they support the project but are reserving judgment on whether to help finance it until they see some numbers. In the meantime, AEG will begin work on other parts of the project as an act of faith that the city will come through on the hotel, said AEG President Timothy Leiweke. Rick Orlov, City Hall reporter for the Daily News, joins Larry to discuss the new project.
James Rogan: From Welfare to Washington
Former US Congressman James Rogan joins Larry Mantle to talk about new autobiography in which he recounts his personal journey from poverty as the illegitimate son of a mother on welfare--to a gangland prosecutor, judge, state legislator, member of the House of Representatives and manager of the House's prosecution in the Senate impeachment trial of Bill Clinton. His new book is called Rough Edges: My Unlikely Road from Welfare to Washington (Regan Books).