Today on AirTalk we'll recap the opening of oral arguments over affirmative action at the Supreme Court, discuss Moody's possible downgrading of some California cities, debate the merits of fracking in Inglewood, grab a bite of Frank Stoltze who is at Philippe's in downtown, wade into the public battle over the San Onofre nuclear power plant, stay on the look out for coyotes and examine the legality of international drone attacks.
U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in affirmative action case
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this morning on whether colleges and universities can continue to favor minority candidates in admissions policies. The case was brought before the court by Abigail Fisher, a white woman who claims the University of Texas violated the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection guarantee by denying her admission based on her race.
However, the university argues it must consider race in admissions or minorities will be underrepresented on its campuses. The case could have big implications for affirmative action plans in higher education throughout the country. We’ll talk with a SCOTUS scholar who was in the courtroom for today’s oral arguments.
Guest:
Lisa McElroy, Professor of Law, Drexel University's Earle Mack School of Law & Supreme Court scholar and writes the Plain English column on SCOTUSblog.com
Moody’s considers downgrading several California cities
Moody’s credit agency has been on a worldwide tear – downgrading banks, global investment firms and even entire countries. Their next targets? Fresno, Huntington Beach and Santa Monica, to name three.
Moody’s announced Tuesday that it will be reviewing 30 of the 95 California cities it monitors for falling tax revenue, increased spending and other factors that could lead to bankruptcies and bond defaults. A number of cities in California have already filed for bankruptcy or are considering it, including Stockton, San Bernardino and Atwater.
What does it mean for a city to be placed on the “downgrade” list? Does it affect credit ratings and borrowing costs? How can a struggling city improve its financial outlook?
Guest:
Matt DeBord, KPCC Reporter; writes the DeBord Report KPCC.org
New study finds fracking in Inglewood oil field to be environmentally safe
The controversial oil extraction method known as hydraulic fracturing or fracking would not damage the environment if implemented at the Inglewood Oil Field near Baldwin Hills, according to a highly-anticipated study released today.
The yearlong study was conducted by Cardno Entrix, an environmental research firm, and commissioned by Plains Exploration & Production Co. as part of a settlement agreement with Culver City. The study examined potential risks for groundwater contamination, air pollution and increased seismic activity. The Inglewood Oil Field is the largest urban oil field in the country.
Protesters have called on lawmakers to ban the technique and some local residents are concerned that fracking in the area may cause land shifts and damage their property. Does this new study prove that fracking is safe enough to be used in our backyards? What else can be done to ensure that the technique is not harmful? What other major concerns should authorities should take into consideration before allowing fracking in urban areas?
Guests:
Dave Quast, California Field Director, Energy in Depth - an industry advocacy group created by the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA)
Gary Gless, long-time resident in Windsor Hills; President, Citizens Coalition for a Safe Community
KPCC reporter Frank Stoltze dips into voter issues at Philippe’s downtown
KPCC's political reporter Frank Stoltze has been at Philippe’s restaurant in downtown Los Angeles all morning talking with a variety of voters about the upcoming election. We’ll check in with Frank to find out just what he discovered in the process, beyond the pickled eggs and copious quantities of coffee.
Frank’s café stop is part of a new online project called That’s My Issue, in which KPCC and WNYC are gathering stories about how voters came to care about the issues that matter to them. How engaged are you in this year’s big election? What issues are most important to you? Do you know your props and representatives?
Guest:
Frank Stoltze, KPCC Reporter
The public battles over San Onofre’s future
Last night, hundreds of people gathered at a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) forum regarding the future of the San Onofre plant. The plant, which has been shut down since January due to tube leaks, once supplied power to 1.4 million homes in the Southland.
After the leaks were discovered, Southern California Edison, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the NRC all began an investigation of the plant which has gone on for months. The leaks were caused by the tubes rubbing against each other and support structures when the reactors were operating at high power. The forum event was held to debate the pros and cons of using the less damaged reactor at 70% for five months. Experts believe that such a level will prevent the rubbing, and thus the leaks, from happening again.
The event was often chaotic, with warring sides between environmental protestors, plant workers and others cheering and yelling over each other. However, no decision was meant to be made last night, and this will most likely be the first in a series of such public hearings.
What’s next in the battle over the San Onofre nuclear power plant? How early could power be restored? Is it time for that area to start looking for another source of permanent power?
Guests:
Ben Bergman, KPCC’s Orange County reporter
Daniel Dominguez, business manager, Utility Workers Union of America Local 246
Rochelle Becker, Executive Director, Alliance for Nuclear Responsiblity
Not so coy: Southland coyote sightings on the rise as bold animals look for food (Poll)
Mark Twain once described the coyote as, "a long, slim, sick and sorry-looking skeleton," that is, "a living, breathing allegory of Want. He is always hungry." It appears that Southern California coyotes are very, very hungry.
Sightings have been reported in Glendale, Tustin, Fountain Valley, and an Irvine man said he was confronted by one at his front door. As sightings become increasingly frequent, animal-control officials are trying to help educate the public about what to do if they see a coyote.
Urban wildlife specialist Lynsey White Dasher said the increase in coyote sightings doesn't indicate a population increase.
"Coyotes have been in Southern California for quite some time, but we might be seeing them more often because some of them have lost their fear of people and are becoming [braver]. Seeing a coyote during the daytime doesn't necessarily mean that that coyote is aggressive or sick, but if they don't run away from you right away, that is a habituated coyote," she said.
These primarily nocturnal animals are just looking for the three essentials: food, water, and shelter. According to Dasher, animals usually lose their shyness because someone has been feeding them – whether or not they're aware of it.
"A lot of sources of food are items that we don't purposefully leave out for wildlife. If we leave our pet food outside, that's a big attractant to coyotes. Fruit that has fallen on the ground," she listed. "Coyotes actually are omnivores, and a lot of their diet, especially in urban areas, is made up of fruit."
Dasher's three tips on how to deal with trespassing coyotes:
1. Make sure you don't have food.
Look around your yard and your neighborhood for possible coyote attractants, like pet food or fallen fruit littering the ground. Gardens, compost piles and garbage can also lure coyotes looking to fill their stomachs – use preventative measures like locked enclosures or fences (at least six feet tall) to keep the animals out.
2. Make sure you're always supervising your pets when they're outside.
Big or small, pet cats and dogs can be targets for attack. Coyotes may see smaller pets as prey, and larger ones as territorial threats.
3. Whenever you see a coyote, act big and scary.
Blow an air horn, take a whistle when you're walking your dog. Squirt a squirt gun, use a water hose, bang pots and pans. These are all ways to make noise and scare off a coyote.
Listen to the rest of the interview for more tips and facts about coyotes.
Weigh In:
Have you seen a coyote recently? Do you think they coyote population needs to be controlled? Have you ever fed a coyote?
Guest:
Lynsey White Dasher, urban wildlife specialist, Humane Society of The United States
USADA finds Lance Armstrong was 'kingpin' of widespread doping ring
The saga surrounding Lance Armstrong and doping allegations continues.
Today the United States Anti-Doping agency released details of two reports, which they claim have evidence showing, "Beyond any doubt that the US Postal Service Pro Cycling Team ran the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen." They claim Lance Armstrong played a key role in not only consuming performance-enhancing drugs, but also supplying it to his teammates.
According to a report in the New York Times, the agency's investigation includes sworn testimony from 26 people, including several of Armstrong's teammates. The reports also include emails, lab results, payments, and other data which prove their claims against Armstrong.
Teammates that gave sworn testimony include: Levi Leipheimer, Tyler Hamilton and George Hincapie, Frankie Andreu, Michael Barry, Tom Danielson, Floyd Landis, Stephen Swart, Christian Vande Velde, Jonathan Vaughters and David Zabriskie.
This past summer, the famous cyclist gave up his fight against USADA's charges. That decision stripped him of seven Tour de France titles, an Olympic bronze medal, and countless other winnings from August 1998 forward.
According to the World Anti-Doping Code, the agency is required to submit evidence of their investigation to the International Cycling Union. The union then has 21 days to appeal the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Once the court makes its decision, the anti-doping agency will then have 21 days to appeal the decision.
Daniel M. Rosen, author of Dope: A History of Performance Enhancement in Sports from the Nineteenth Century to Today (Praeger)