Teachers union may fight LAUSD seniority settlement. Sacrament inks the state budget. Two wheels good, Sundays are for cycling. Orange County Journalists' Roundtable. Cell phones on the brain - the danger of radiation from our gadgets. Hang ten on a hundred foot wave - scientists & surfers in pursuit of rogue waves. Plus, the latest news.
Teachers union may fight LAUSD seniority settlement
Tuesday’s resolution by Los Angeles Board of Education to reform its ‘last-hired, first fired’ policy has brought down the wrath of the teachers union. The decision came as the result of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberty Group and others, which contends that the practice of laying off newer teachers first disproportionately hurts disadvantaged schools. The change must still be ruled on by a judge. The California Teachers Union, which has long held teacher seniority sacred, has vowed to fight the action in court. Should layoffs be based on seniority, or are there other factors that make for a good teacher?
Guest:
AJ Duffy, President, UTLA - United Teachers Los Angeles
Sacramento inks the state budget
California legislators finalized a proposed state budget yesterday, three months into the fiscal year - the latest budget ever. One of the final pieces of the pie came together in the wee hours as the Service Employees International Union, which represents half the state’s work force, reached an agreement with Schwarzenegger’s administration. Today lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the package, which includes a number of painful compromises designed to help close a $19 million dollar deficit. But critics say even that won’t be enough to close the gap, and leaves us with woefully little left in the cookie jar for the next rainy day.
Guest:
Julie Small, KPCC Sacramento Reporter
Sundays are for cycling
When it comes to getting around LA, the car is king. But this Sunday, that’s all going to change during LA’s first ever “CicLAvia.” On October 10th, from 10am to 3pm, a major swath of the city, including portions of 7th street, New Hampshire, Spring, Central and E 4th, will be closed to traffic. Instead, bikes, pedestrians and events will rule. No cars allowed! Advocates hope this will become a regular thing, with alternating routes, adjusted according to turnout and popularity. Is this just what LA needs? Will Angelenos take to the streets and cycle?
Guest:
Aaron Paley, president of Community Arts Resources, which organizes community events
Orange County Journalists Roundtable
Larry and our talented trio of Orange County journalists riff about the latest news from the OC. Top stories up for discussion: debate plans and ethnic politics in Loretta Sanchez-Van Tran race; Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle accused of conflict of interest for trying to push high speed rail; Disneyland employee allowed to wear hijab—with a hat on top; outside review ordered of OC’s embattled Public Guardian’s Office and more.
Guests:
Gustavo Arellano, Managing Editor of the OC Weekly and author of Ask A Mexican
William Lobdell, freelance journalist covering Orange County
Teri Sforza, Staff Writer for the Orange County Register
Cell phones on the brain
Over half the world’s population now uses a cell phone on a daily basis. That’s a lot of radiation, and the public has wondered if we should be concerned. In her new book, Devra Davis cites recent research linking cell phones to brain tumors and other health problems. The five-year Interphone Study, funded by the European Union and health agencies in 13 countries, recently published its findings, which many scientists find inconclusive. The wireless industry and government agencies from the FDA to the CDC to the WHO tell us there isn’t enough evidence that cell phones are harmful. But many cancers take years to develop – have researchers had enough time to know for sure? And, if you’ve heard the warnings, have you dialed back on your minutes?
Guests:
Devra Davis, author of Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry Has Done to Hide it, and How To Protect Your Family
Bernard Leikind, PhD., independent physicist and author of the article Do Cell Phones Cause Cancer?
Scientists & surfers in pursuit of rogue waves
For centuries sailors have told tales of tall waves, one hundred feet high or more, coming from nowhere and swallowing ships. Scientists tended to regard these stories with skepticism. But in the past few decades a startling number of ships seem to have been destroyed by huge rogue waves. In her new book The Wave, O magazine editor-in-chief Susan Casey explores the science behind this terrifying phenomenon and the extreme surfers who fly around the world trying to ride these massive monsters. Legendary surfer Laird Hamilton and a group of his friends pioneered riding swells of seventy and eighty feet. For this tidal tribe, conquering the one-hundred foot wave is the holy grail of their sport. Why are surfers and scientists so obsessed with these giants of the ocean?
Guest:
Susan Casey, author of The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks and Giants of the Ocean
Teachers union may fight LAUSD seniority settlement
Tuesday’s resolution by Los Angeles Board of Education to reform its ‘last-hired, first fired’ policy has brought down the wrath of the teachers union. The decision came as the result of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberty Group and others, which contends that the practice of laying off newer teachers first disproportionately hurts disadvantaged schools. The change must still be ruled on by a judge. The California Teachers Union, which has long held teacher seniority sacred, has vowed to fight the action in court. Should layoffs be based on seniority, or are there other factors that make for a good teacher?
Guest:
AJ Duffy, President, UTLA - United Teachers Los Angeles
Sacramento inks the state budget
California legislators finalized a proposed state budget yesterday, three months into the fiscal year - the latest budget ever. One of the final pieces of the pie came together in the wee hours as the Service Employees International Union, which represents half the state’s work force, reached an agreement with Schwarzenegger’s administration. Today lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the package, which includes a number of painful compromises designed to help close a $19 million dollar deficit. But critics say even that won’t be enough to close the gap, and leaves us with woefully little left in the cookie jar for the next rainy day.
Guest:
Julie Small, KPCC Sacramento Reporter
Sundays are for cycling
When it comes to getting around LA, the car is king. But this Sunday, that’s all going to change during LA’s first ever “CicLAvia.” On October 10th, from 10am to 3pm, a major swath of the city, including portions of 7th street, New Hampshire, Spring, Central and E 4th, will be closed to traffic. Instead, bikes, pedestrians and events will rule. No cars allowed! Advocates hope this will become a regular thing, with alternating routes, adjusted according to turnout and popularity. Is this just what LA needs? Will Angelenos take to the streets and cycle?
Guest:
Aaron Paley, president of Community Arts Resources, which organizes community events
Orange County Journalists Roundtable
Larry and our talented trio of Orange County journalists riff about the latest news from the OC. Top stories up for discussion: debate plans and ethnic politics in Loretta Sanchez-Van Tran race; Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle accused of conflict of interest for trying to push high speed rail; Disneyland employee allowed to wear hijab—with a hat on top; outside review ordered of OC’s embattled Public Guardian’s Office and more.
Guests:
Gustavo Arellano, Managing Editor of the OC Weekly and author of Ask A Mexican
William Lobdell, freelance journalist covering Orange County
Teri Sforza, Staff Writer for the Orange County Register
Cell phones on the brain
Over half the world’s population now uses a cell phone on a daily basis. That’s a lot of radiation, and the public has wondered if we should be concerned. In her new book, Devra Davis cites recent research linking cell phones to brain tumors and other health problems. The five-year Interphone Study, funded by the European Union and health agencies in 13 countries, recently published its findings, which many scientists find inconclusive. The wireless industry and government agencies from the FDA to the CDC to the WHO tell us there isn’t enough evidence that cell phones are harmful. But many cancers take years to develop – have researchers had enough time to know for sure? And, if you’ve heard the warnings, have you dialed back on your minutes?
Guests:
Devra Davis, author of Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry Has Done to Hide it, and How To Protect Your Family
Bernard Leikind, PhD., independent physicist and author of the article Do Cell Phones Cause Cancer?
Scientists & surfers in pursuit of rogue waves
For centuries sailors have told tales of tall waves, one hundred feet high or more, coming from nowhere and swallowing ships. Scientists tended to regard these stories with skepticism. But in the past few decades a startling number of ships seem to have been destroyed by huge rogue waves. In her new book The Wave, O magazine editor-in-chief Susan Casey explores the science behind this terrifying phenomenon and the extreme surfers who fly around the world trying to ride these massive monsters. Legendary surfer Laird Hamilton and a group of his friends pioneered riding swells of seventy and eighty feet. For this tidal tribe, conquering the one-hundred foot wave is the holy grail of their sport. Why are surfers and scientists so obsessed with these giants of the ocean?
Guest:
Susan Casey, author of The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks and Giants of the Ocean