Writers Strike Update; Los Angeles Harbor to Ban Diesel-Belching Big Rigs; Fire Update; Darfur Now; FilmWeek Reviews
Writers Strike Update
Thousands of members of the WGA met last night at the Los Angeles Convention Center, where Union Leaders announced that they are set to go on strike. A walkout would likely occur Monday, assuming an agreement with the entertainment industry is not reached within the next few days. Larry discusses the situation with KPCC reporter Frank Stoltze.
Los Angeles Harbor to Ban Diesel-Belching Big Rigs
The Los Angeles Harbor Commission has approved a phased-in ban of diesel-producing older trucks at the Port of Los Angeles. The Clean Trucks Program, designed to reduce 80 percent of harmful diesel emissions within five years, initially calls for a ban of some 16,000 rigs built before 1989 beginning Oct. 1, 2008. Stricter regulations will follow in an effort to meet 2007 federal emissions standards by Jan. 1, 2012. Trucks not meeting program guidelines will be denied entry into the port. The Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa still must sign off on the program. The emission-controlling ban is expected to be adopted by the neighboring Port of Long Beach next week. Trucks not meeting program guidelines will be denied entry into the port. Larry discusses the ban with LA Harbor Commission President S. David Freeman and Julie Sauls of the California Truckers Association.
Fire Update
Most of the Southern California wildfires are out or under control, but the Santa Ana winds are expected to return this weekend. What preparations are being made to prevent new fires from starting and keep the remaining fires from growing? Larry talks with Captain Fernando Herrera of Cal Fire, Captain Steve Miller of the Orange County Fire Authority, and Joe Cassmassi of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Darfur Now
The documentary, Darfur Now, is a call to action for people to end the crisis in Darfur. It focuses on six individuals who struggle to bring attention to the situation in Darfur and the need to get involved. Larry talks with Ted Braun, the film's director, Adam Sterling, an L.A. activist featured in the documentary, and Rabbi Gary Greenebaum, one of the film's Executive Producers.
FilmWeek Reviews
Larry and critics Jean Oppenheimer, of Village Voice Media, Claudia Puig, of USAToday, and Charles Solomon, animation critic, historian, and author for amazon.com, discuss many of the week's new releases including the feature films American Gangster, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Bee Movie, and Martian Child, and the documentaries, Darfur Now and Primo Levy's Journey.