We recap the one and only debate between U.S. Senate candidates Kamala Harris and Loretta Sanchez; is it worth it for California homeowners to install solar panels?; the pros and cons of Prop 59; and craft breweries are enjoying popularity, but are there enough specialty hops to keep them afloat?
What we learned from California’s one and only US Senate debate
At the one and only debate between the two candidates vying for Barbara Boxer's US Senate seat took place last night at Cal State LA, Loretta Sanchez and Kamala Harris tried to distinguish their differences.
It's the first time two CA US Senate candidates from the same party will face each other for the general election. That's the result of CA implementing a top two primary that pairs the two leading vote-getters, regardless of party. Harris is CA's Attorney General. Sanchez represents much of central Orange County in the House of Representatives. Both are Democrats.
Harris has the Party's official endorsement, as well as those of President Obama and many high-profile Democrats. This morning, she added the backing of both US Senators from CA - the retiring Barbara Boxer and the state's senior Senator, Dianne Feinstein.
Larry talks with John Myers and Marisa Lagos about the takeaways from last night’s debate.
Read more here.
Guests:
John Myers, Sacramento Bureau Chief, Los Angeles Times; he tweets
Marisa Lagos, reporter for KQED’s California Government and Politics desk; she tweets
SoCal residents weigh the benefits of investing in rooftop solar panels
When does it make sense to invest in solar panels on your home?
They may seem like a good way to help the environment and save money, but a recent rise in consumer complaints is bringing the energy-saving investment into question. As reported in the Sacramento Bee, California’s solar panel industry is booming, and with it comes issues surrounding customer exploitation, increases in property taxes and trouble selling homes with panels installed. But there are also many success stories. Larry Mantle speaks to Ivan Penn of the L.A. Times to get the ins and outs of what consumers should know before buying rooftop solar panels.
Guest:
Ivan Penn, energy reporter for the Los Angeles Times
#VoterGamePlan: the pros & cons of Prop 59 to tell officials to overturn Citizens United
Proposition 59 is an advisory measure seeking voter opinion on whether officials should act to overturn the Citizens United court ruling.
Guests:
Michele Sutter, the chair of the Yes On 59 Committee
John Eastman, Henry Salvatori Professor of Law & Community Service, Chapman University; Founding Director, Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence at The Claremont Institute
Do you have your voter game plan? Use our Voter's Edge election guide to find your personalized ballot.
Environmentalists debate ‘delisting’ of Yellowstone grizzly bear from endangered species
A public comment period ends this Friday on whether or not to remove the Yellowstone grizzly bear from the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.
Added to the list in the 1970s, the bear’s population numbers have more than doubled in the 40 years it’s been federally protected, but now some biologists and environmentalists say it’s time for them to be “delisted.” Opponents argue that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which proposed delisting the bear, is rushing to make a decision without fully understanding the impacts of delisting on the bear’s habitat.
Delisting the bear would remove federal protections that prohibit things like hunting grizzlies in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). If Fish and Wildlife does move forward with delisting, protection of the bears would be turned over to the states of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Parks and wildlife officials in those have proposed plans for both protecting and hunting Yellowstone grizzlies.
There’s still time to weigh in before the public comment period closes. You can submit your comment to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service here.
Guests:
Matt Hogan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mountain-Prairie Region 6 in Colorado
Rick Bass, writer-in-residence at Montana State University and author of L.A. Times op-ed ‘Don’t delist Yellowstone’s grizzlies’
Is the craft beer industry facing a slowdown?
Craft beer has been on the scene for a while now.
And with that, many beer businesses have opted to become part of the craze. But could the proliferation of so many companies be oversaturating the market?
As reported in The Wall Street journal, with a large number of small craft beer companies on the rise, it’s been difficult for breweries to find hops that give their product that signature taste.
Larry speaks today to Tom McCormick of the California Craft Brewers Association, to find out more about the future of the craft beer industry.
Guest:
Tom McCormick, executive director of California Craft Brewers Association