Today on AirTalk we'll discuss the unanimous ruling in the California Supreme Court that will allow local governments to ban medical marijuana dispensaries within their borders. We'll also talk about the best ways to keep your pets safe from summer heat and consider changes to the way budget airlines charge for baggage and beverage services. Later, we'll look at Ray Irani's dismissal from Occidental College, speak with Jenny Price about her new app detailing Malibu access points, and examine the ways the L.A. River is becoming part of Los Angeles communities.
California’s Supreme Court rules to allow cities to ban medicinal marijuana dispensaries
California’s Supreme Court has unanimously ruled to allow local governments to ban medical marijuana dispensaries within their borders. The ruling will allow cities and counties to restrict access to medical marijuana by shutting down pot shops within city limits.
Medical marijuana is legalized in California, and the drug is decriminalized throughout the state, but this most recent ruling from the California Supreme Court could result in the closure and criminalization of medical marijuana dispensaries.
Should local governments be able to restrict access to dispensaries? What will happen to the shut down shops? What does the ruling mean for California citizens who smoke legal medical marijuana?
Guest:
Frank Stoltze, KPCC reporter
Keeping your pets safe in summer heat
With summer right around the corner and temperatures heating up it’s important to remember to take time to make sure your pets stay cool too. When it’s hot for you, it’s even hotter for them. Too much heat can be extremely dangerous and even fatal for animals.
Most of the advice is common sense, but it’s always good to get a refresher course. How can you tell if your dog is having a heatstroke? If your pet is breathing heavily is that a sign of danger? Are cats susceptible to heat stroke too?
Guest:
Michael Chill, dog trainer, behavior specialist
Tray tables up & wallets open: Airline to charge extra for beverages and carry-ons
Frontier Airlines plans to charge economy passengers $1.99 for soda, juice, coffee and tea. The last carrier that tried to stop complimentary beverage service was US Airways in 2009. At the time, it hoped to set an industry trend, but found itself all alone fielding vitriolic reaction from customers. Six months later, refreshments were free of charge again.
Following a more recent and successful trend, Frontier will charge carry-on fees -- $25 in advance, $100 at the gate -- to folks who buy their plane tickets from Orbitz, Expedia and the like. The Denver-based airline says the move answers complaints from its loyal customer base tired of crowded overhead bins. Moreover, the fee will encourage customers to buy tickets directly from Frontier in order to avoid the fee.
How will the marketplace respond to the beverage fee? What about passengers? Will this make for grumpy, penny pinchers on board? Could it start a trend? What about the carry-on fee? How much financial gain will Frontier see?
Guest:
Chris McGinnis, Travel Analyst with Travel Skills in San Francisco, CA.
Oil Boss Irani swept out of job in wave of shareholder activism
One of the highest-paid execs in corporate America is out of a job. Investors at the Los Angeles-based Occidental Petroleum voted to oust Executive Chairman Ray Irani at its annual shareholder meeting last Friday.
Shareholders were apparently unhappy with Irani’s alleged attempt to throw out the energy company’s current CEO, who replaced him two years ago. Shareholder activism has apparently been on the rise and Ray Irani is but the latest casualty. In April, Hewlett-Packard’s Ray Lane resigned as chairman, and at Chesapeake Energy, Aubrey McClendon stepped down as the firm’s CEO.
Guest:
Damien Park, president and CEO of Hedge Fund Solutions, LLC, a consulting firm that studies shareholder activism based in Philadelphia.
An earlier version of this post incorrectly linked Occidental Petroleum with Occidental College and featured an image of the college. There is no link between the two, and KPCC regrets the error.
Malibu’s hidden beaches and how to access them
Anyone who’s ever sat in the bumper to bumper summertime traffic crawling from Santa Monica to Malibu’s Surfrider Beach can attest to two most striking features of the drive: how beautiful the coast is west of the Los Angeles basin and how few actual access points there are to all that stunning beachfront.
RELATED: The beach app Malibu residents really don't want you to have
Not only are there few paths, staircases, and parking lots for beachgoers who can’t afford a multi-million-dollar house on the sand, but the few access points that do exist are frequently obscured by homeowners who would rather keep the beach in front of their home “private.”
What tricks are employed to dissuade Angelinos from accessing Malibu’s beaches? Why isn’t there more access to these beaches? Are some beaches private and others public? How do you tell the difference?
Guest:
Jenny Price, author of newly launched app Our Malibu Beaches
The L.A. river is on its way up
The L.A River is undergoing a series of improvements and upgrades that have Angelenos taking a new look at its shores.
Several events have taken place along the river in Studio City, Atwater, Highland Park and Glendale. Bike and walking paths are open, film screenings will show in parks along the water, and kayakers have paddled the length of the river.
Things are changing at the river and Los Angeles residents are starting to take notice. If the river was utilized better and developed a bit more, could it be more like New York’s successful The High Line? What is the best way to revitalize the L.A. River? Can it be transformed into a more community connected L.A. landmark? What are the best ways to take advantage of the L.A. River in the summer season?
Guests:
Shelly Backlar, Friends of the LA River
Lewis MacAdams, Friends of the LA River