San Onofre Toll Road; JPL Employees vs. Homeland Security; New Citizenship Test; Joel Grey
San Onofre Toll Road
According to new findings by the California Coastal Commission, the proposed six-lane Foothill South toll road through San Onofre State Beach would violate state laws designed to regulate development and protect the environment. That report differs from the analysis by the Transportation Corridor Agencies which says the tollway would be the least environmentally harmful of the nine proposed routes. The toll road has been the subject of ongoing debate. Environmentalist and surfers oppose it, fearing it will destroy Trestles beach. The TCA and others praise it as a solution to some of Orange County's traffic problems. Larry and his guests discuss the future of the toll road.
JPL Employees vs. Homeland Security
The Homeland Security Presidential Directive #12 is one of a series of Executive Orders signed by President Bush in 2004. It calls for background checks and fingerprinting of all federal employees and contractors. In August, 28 JPL employees asked a federal court for an injunction to release them from the requirement to comply with the implementation of HSPD#12. According to the plaintiffs, NASA is insisting that all employees sign a voluntary waiver consenting to these background investigations or risk losing their jobs. The arguments for preliminary injunctive relief will be heard in Federal Court in Los Angeles today. Robert Nelson, a JPL employee and lead plaintiff in the case joins Larry Mantle to discuss HSPD#12 and his refusal to comply.
New Citizenship Test
How much do you remember from your elementary school civics class? Do you think you could pass the country's citizenship test? The USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) has made changes to the test that will go into affect next year. The re-vamped exam is meant to increase would-be citizens' grasp of what it means to be an American rather than to encourage memorizing a list of historical facts. Of the 100 possible civics and history questions, 10 will be asked of those seeking citizenship. As is now the case, applicants must answer six of the ten oral questions correctly as well as pass an English proficiency exam. Larry talks with a representative of USCIS about why the changes were made and asks listeners to weigh in on why they have, or have not, chosen to become United States citizens.
Joel Grey
Larry Mantle talks with Academy and Tony award-winning actor Joel Grey about his photography exhibit now running at the Frank Pictures Gallery in Santa Monica, "Looking Hard, An Exhibition of Large Format Abstract Photographs." Aside from his esteemed career as an actor of stage and screen, Grey is also an accomplished photographer.