House Republicans Call For Hearings on Senate Immigration Bill; UCLA Anderson Forecast; Protestants Address Gender and Sexuality; Villaraigosa Strikes Deal on School Takeover Plan; The Lemon Tree
House Republicans Call For Hearings on Senate Immigration Bill
Republican congressional leaders say there's virtually no chance that big immigration law changes will be made this year. House Speaker Dennis Hastert has announced plans for a rare series of hearings to consider the Senate version of immigration reform. But privately, several Republicans in both houses say President Bush's ambitious plan for a guest worker program and eventual citizenship for some undocumented workers is dead for the year. Larry Mantle talks with Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher and John Campbell, as well as conservative political anlalyst Arnold Steinberg.
UCLA Anderson Forecast
Larry Mantle talks with UCLA Anderson Forecast Director Ed Leamer and Economist Ryan Ratcliff about their quarterly economic forecast for the Southland and the nation. Larry also talks with economist John Karevoll from DataQuick about the latest trends in Southern California home sales.
Protestants Address Gender and Sexuality
Larry and his guests discuss gender and sexuality in the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches and look at the arguments within the two denominations regarding homosexual clergy, gay marriage, and female leadership. They also consider what the internal political ramifications could be for both organizations in light of the issues being raised by their leadership and congregants. Larry talks with Bishop Jon Bruno of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Los Angeles, Frank Alton of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Wilshire Center, author Jack Rogers, and former LA Times religion writer Larry Stammer.
Villaraigosa Strikes Deal on School Takeover Plan
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa reached a compromise with legislative leaders and teachers unions that would give him some authority over the Los Angeles Unified School District without handing him the outright control he had sought. Larry Mantle talks about the deal with Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters.
The Lemon Tree
In a 1998 NPR documentar, journalist Sandy Tolan reported on the unlikely friendship between a Palestinian man and an Israeli Woman. Tolan continues their story in his new book, "The Lemon Tree: An Arab, A Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East." Larry talks with Tolan about the four decade span of this friendship and the 70-year history of Israeli-Palestinian relations.