From hair salons to summer camps, employers across the country are putting in noncompete clauses in employment contracts to prevent employees from working for their rivals. California currently bans noncompete clauses, but should it repeal its ban? After, a survey says Los Angeles is one of the worst cities for a "staycation." Then, Peter Baker joins us to talk about his new book, “Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House.”
Court decides vital Vergara v. California education case
California Superior Court Judge Rolf Treu issued a decision this morning striking down teacher tenure protection, seniority-based job protection and existing disciplinary policy in a groundbreaking case for education equality.
RELATED: Vergara trial: Calif. judge says state teacher protections unconstitutional (updated)
The case considered policies that plaintiffs argue “handcuff the public education system” in the state. During two months of trial, Treu heard testimony from students who said the laws that make it difficult to fire tenured teachers deprived them of a good education.
The lawsuit also attacked seniority-based protection known as “last in, first out,” teacher discipline and other benefits. The decision could have a broad impact in California public schools and beyond.
Lawyers for the California Teachers Association say that changes to the system will have a negative impact on students and staff, allowing the firing of teachers on a whim and deincentivizing the public school system for talented teachers.
How will this ruling change public education in California? Could changing teacher tenure improve education, or will it prevent good teachers from working in public schools?
Guests:
Evelyn Larrubia, Education Editor, KPCC
Gary Ravani, Vice President, California Federation of Teachers; Intervenors in Vergara v. California
Joshua Lipshutz, plaintiff’s counsel in Vergara v. California, part of the legal team for Students Matter
Should CA repeal its ban on noncompete clauses?
Once popular in the domains of high-tech and sales, noncompete clauses are now appearing in new professions. From hair salons to summer camps, employers across the country are putting in noncompete clauses in employment contracts to prevent employees from working for their rivals.
California bans noncompete clauses, but businesses are finding ways to get around the prohibition.
Supporters of the ban--mostly venture capitalists and high-tech companies--say it noncompetes stifle innovation. Opponents--including small businesses--argue that noncompetes encourage companies to invest and retain their workers. Massachusetts is currently debating whether to put in a noncompete ban. Should California repeal its ban?
Guests:
Orly Lobel, professor at the University of San Diego School of Law; author of “Talent Wants to be Free” (Yale University Press, 2013) focusing on noncompete clauses
Lee Fleming, Director of Coleman Fung Institute for Engineering Leadership; Professor of Management of Organizations at UC Berkeley who has studied the economic impact of noncompete clauses
Survey ranks LA one of the worst cities for a 'staycation'
Using a rigorous, if not quizzical, methodology, the personal finance website WalletHub analyzed which American cities rank as the best and worst for "staycations."
Out of 100 cities, the survey ranks Los Angeles at a dismal 68. Coming in at number one (drumroll please) is Buffalo, New York. The survey looked at factors such as number of swimming pools, museums and golf courses per capita, miles of bicycle routes and cost of entertainment.
With LA's sizeable population, perhaps it never had a chance. Adding to the swell of residents, L.A. will be one of the top ten U.S. vacation destinations for this summer, according to Orbitz travel site.
Guests:
Neha Singh, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Programs at the Collins College of Hospitality Management, Cal Poly Pomona
Susan Lomax, Vice President, Communications, Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board
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A look at the rules and regulations governing American truck drivers and sleep
On Monday, New Jersey authorities said the Walmart trucker charged in the fatal crash that involved 30 Rock star Tracy Morgan reportedly hadn't slept in 24 hours prior to the accident that killed one and injured several others.
The high-profile crash comes only days after a Senate panel approved a proposal backed by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) to roll back new rules, first proposed in 2010, forcing truck drivers to pull over and log a minimum number of hours for rest.
What are the rules for rest and hours governing american truckers? How are they enforced and should they be changed?
Guests:
Rob Abbott, Vice President of Safety Policy, American Trucking Associations (ATA), the largest national trade association for the trucking industry
Steve Keppler, Executive Director, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), a not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives across north america
Is one-day divorce a money-saver, or a trap?
In some California courts, getting a divorce is getting easier. One-day divorce programs in the state offer a speedy alternative for people who can’t afford a lawyer or don’t want one. Getting a divorce takes money and time, sometimes quite a bit of both.
A bad breakup can take months or even years to work through, and divorce attorneys are expensive. In California, about three quarters of family law litigants don’t have a lawyer -- once people file their initial paperwork, they aren’t sure how to proceed. One-day divorce programs were designed to accommodate that need. Once a couple has their paperwork and a general idea of how to divide property and child custody, a neutral counselor finalizes legal logistics.
Proponents say it’s efficient, but some family law specialists disagree, arguing that for a couple with significant assets or serious disagreements, hiring a lawyer is worth it. What are the potential benefits and drawbacks to one-day divorce programs? Will this kind of divorce spread? Is it worth it to save time and money during a divorce, or is the legal advice crucial to the process?
Guest:
Judge Maureen Hallahan, supervising judge for the family law division of the Superior Court of San Diego County
Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House
In Days of Fire, New York Times White House correspondent Peter Baker chronicles the history of one of the most consequential presidencies in modern times through the figures of George Walker Bush and Richard Bruce Cheney.
Drawing on hundreds of interviews with key players, and thousands of pages of never-released notes, memos, and other internal documents, Baker paints a riveting portrait of a partnership that evolved dramatically over time, from the early days when Bush leaned on Cheney, making him the most influential vice president in history, to their final hours, when the two had grown so far apart they were clashing in the West Wing.
Guest:
Peter Baker, Chief White House Correspondent, The New York Times; Author, “Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House” - now out in paperback