An agreement made between the city of L.A. and The Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District today will save the city millions of dollars and billions of gallons of water on an annual basis. Also, we check in on the latest in the grand jury trial in the Michael Brown case. Then, Steve Carell is the latest in comedians taking on dramatic roles.
City of LA's new settlement with Owens Valley: Costs, tradeoffs and implications
A new agreement between the City of Los Angeles and the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District will shift dust control measures over Owens Lake to waterless methods, a move that will save the city millions of dollars and billions of gallons of water on an annual basis while maintaining air quality standards for Owens Lake and Owen Valley.
Due to the construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct and its water gathering activities, dust control methods had to be implemented to protect the air for wildlife and residents, and this agreement has come after years of negotiations. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) uses 25 billion gallons of water annually to control dust at Owens Lake, and the Department expects to save almost 3 billion gallons from the revised measures, enough water to serve 43,000 people. During the past 15 years, the program has already eliminated over 90% of the excess blowing dust.
Can the Owens ecosystem handle more water coming south? Did one side get more out of this deal? And as the drought continues, how can elected officials find ways to save water (and money)?
Guests:
Mike Feuer, Los Angeles City Attorney who announced the settlement this morning with Mayor Eric Garcetti
Molly Peterson, KPCC’s environment correspondent
Mike Prather, the Owens Lake advocate for the Eastern Sierra Audubon
As Ferguson awaits grand jury decision, an analysis on the likelihood of a successful prosecution
The residents of Ferguson are fearing that the violence and looting that had plagued the small St. Louis suburb in August will again erupt as they await the grand jury decision on whether to charge the white police officer that killed black teenager Michael Brown. That decision is expected soon.
The grand jury have been hearing evidence in the case for months and behind closed doors—the latter point a source of contention for critics of the process. Benjamin Crump, the lawyer representing the Brown family, said this week that the grand jury heard evidence from the private forensics expert hired to perform an autopsy on Brown by the family.
How does a grand jury work? What other evidence was likely presented to the grand jury? What factors do a grand jury have to weigh before deciding to go with an indictment? Even if the grand jury decided to file charges against the officer in the Brown case, how likely would it lead to a successful prosecution?
Guests:
Steve Giegerich, reporter at the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, who’s been reporting on the case
Laurie Levenson, Professor of Law, Loyola Law School
Eugene O’Donnell, Professor of law and police science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice; former NYPD officer; former prosecutor in Kings County (Brooklyn)
Flying under the radar: Bob Hope, John Wayne, Ontario and the future of L.A.’s regional airports
L.A.’s regional airports have struggled in recent years to keep up with the number of passengers and airlines flying into and out of Los Angeles International Airport. As a result, more and more people every year are making the long trek to LAX, where they can find more airlines and more flights, rather than flying out of the regional airport that might be closer to home.
Bob Hope International Airport in Burbank, John Wayne International Airport in Orange County, and Ontario International Airport are three of the regional hubs in the Los Angeles area who have been working to continue drawing passengers and airlines to fly with them. A recent article in the L.A. Times suggested that Bob Hope International Airport was considering changing its name back to Hollywood Burbank Airport, in the hopes of highlighting its proximity to Hollywood and the film and television studios in the area. A spokesperson for John Wayne Airport tells AirTalk that they have seen some growth over the last year, with passenger traffic increasing four percent between last September and this September and aircraft operations increasing eleven percent in that same timeframe. As for Ontario International Airport, they are currently involved in a lawsuit with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), the authority that oversees both LAX and Ontario, over an agreement that gives control of Ontario’s airport to LAWA.
Which airport do you use when you fly out of the L.A. area and why? What more do you think can be done to keep business up at these smaller airports?
Guests:
Dan Feger, executive director of the Burbank Glendale Pasadena Airport Authority
Jess Romo, General Manager of LA/Ontario International Airport
Brian Sumers, Airports and Airlines reporter for the trade publication, Aviation Week
Filmweek: 'Foxcatcher,' 'Rosewater,' 'The Homesman' and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Amy Nicholson and Henry Sheehan review this week’s releases, including “FoxCatcher,” “Rosewater,” “The Homesman” and more. TGIFilmweek!
Ranker - Top 10 Lists and More
Guests:
Amy Nicholson, film critic for KPCC and chief film critic for LA Weekly
Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and CriticsAGoGo.com
When your favorite actor breaks type...
American funnyman Steve Carell will take a big risk in front of American audiences this weekend when he makes his dramatic debut as the millionaire murdering madman, John du Pont, in ‘Foxcatcher.’
Actors who can make an audience laugh are quite rare, yet many of them are determined to take on serious roles. Why are they so intent on giving up on such a unique talent?
Michael Keaton as Batman, Robin Williams in ‘One Hour Photo’ and ‘Insomnia,’ Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader in ‘The Skeleton Twins,’ Adam Sandler in ‘Punch Drunk Love,’ Jim Carrey in ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ -- When did it work? When did it fall flat and why? What’s your favorite “break-type” actor or film?
Guests:
Amy Nicholson, film critic for KPCC and chief film critic for LA Weekly
Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and CriticsAGoGo.com