Today on AirTalk, we discuss a bill that would crack down on vaccine exemptions as well as doctors who sell fraudulent medical exemptions. We also examine whether or not giving capacity should be a factor in college admissions; get the latest on Hurricane Dorian as it heads past the Carolinas; and more.
The Latest On Hurricane Dorian As It Rakes The Southeast US Coast
Hurricane Dorian raked the coastal Carolinas with howling, window-rattling winds and sideways rain Thursday, spinning off tornadoes and knocking out power to more than 200,000 homes and businesses as it pushed northward toward the dangerously exposed Outer Banks.
Leaving at least 20 people dead in its wake in the devastated Bahamas, Dorian made its way up the Eastern Seaboard, sweeping past Florida on Wednesday at a relatively safe distance. From there, the storm apparently grazed Georgia overnight, then hugged the South Carolina coast with more serious effects.It strengthened briefly to a Category 3 hurricane, then dropped back to a Category 2, with winds of 110 mph, still a threat to hundreds of miles of coastline.
The National Hurricane Center's projected track showed Dorian passing near or over North Carolina's Outer Banks on Friday, lashing the thin line of islands that stick out from the U.S. coast like a boxer's chin. Dorian was then expected to peel away from the shoreline.Larry sits down with reporters based in Charleston and Wilmington to get the latest updates on Hurricane Dorian and how it’s impacting the community.
With files from the Associated Press.
Guests:
Tony Bartelme, a senior reporter for the Post & Courier in Charleston, South Carolina
Benjamin Schachtman, managing editor at the Port City Daily, an online news publication in Wilmington, NC
Tensions Between Major League Soccer and Antifa are Playing Out in Portland
The Washington Post reported that Timbers fans, known as the Timber Army, have been flying flags emblazoned with anti-communist, anti-fascist icons since 2017.
But earlier this year, MLS informed attendees that those political banners would no longer be allowed in the stadium. At a match last month, fans of the Timbers and the Seattle Sounders—regional rivals—teamed up in silent protest for the first half hour of play. 33 minutes in, attendees broke their silence and revealed hidden Antifa flags in disruption of the league’s new rules.
Do you think political protest has a place at soccer games? Share your thoughts with Larry Mantle at 866.893.5722.
Guest:
Jamie Goldberg, soccer reporter with The Oregonian; she tweets
Gustavo Arellano Launches Liberate ‘Taco Tuesday’ Campaign, Enlists Lebron James
LA Times feature writer Gustavo Arellano is making the case for why NBA star LeBron James should liberate “Taco Tuesday” and make it un-trademarkable.
Word got out that James is attempting to trademark “Taco Tuesday.” James uses Instagram on Tuesdays to share videos of his family and friends as they prepare to eat tacos. Taco Johns acquired the rights to “Taco Tuesday” about three decades ago and Arellano says the restaurant chain will undoubtedly fight James’ attempt to trademark it. Arellano says James has the opportunity to do some good. He thinks the Lakers star should use the legal battle to officially liberate “Taco Tuesday” for the world to enjoy. He even offers to take James on a “taco crawl” through L.A. for inspiration.
Guest:
Gustavo Arellano, features writer at the Los Angeles Times, whose latest piece is titled, “Why LeBron James should free ‘Taco Tuesday’ from its trademark shackles”
Bill To Restrict Vaccine Exemptions Awaits Newsom Signature
Medical groups and a lawmaker behind California legislation to crack down on vaccine exemptions said Wednesday they were surprised by Gov. Gavin Newsom's last-minute call for changes to the bill, a move that inserted fresh uncertainty into one of the year's most contentious issues.
It was the second time the Democratic governor sought to change the measure aimed at doctors who sell fraudulent medical exemptions for students, a proposal vehemently opposed by anti-vaccine activists. After expressing hesitancy with the bill and winning substantial changes to the measure in June, Newsom had committed to signing it.
After it passed out of the Senate on Wednesday, advocates said they still expect him to sign it, even as opponents target Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, urging a veto.
The bill by state Sen. Richard Pan, a Sacramento Democrat, would allow state public health officials to investigate doctors who grant more than five medical exemptions in a year and schools with vaccination rates of less than 95%. He said lower vaccination rates erode the "community immunity" that limits measles outbreaks like those that reached their highest level in decades this year and that intent of his bill is to "keep children safe."
Anti-vaccine activists have been flooding Siebel Newsom's Instagram account with comments opposing the bill.
With files from the Associated Press
Guest:
Michelle Faust Raghavan, health care reporter at KPCC with a focus on health policy; she tweets
Should Giving Capacity Be A Factor In College Admissions?
A recent LA Times article sheds light on how USC flags potential students of influential families and potential donors.
Emails were made public this week when an attorney representing a father involved in the recent USC admission scandals filed them in court.
The emails included a list of “special interest” applicants and notes about how much parents had donated or might be expected to donate. Large donations to colleges and universities can undoubtedly have a positive impact for schools. It can mean updated facilities and better resources that have the potential to benefit all students at the school.
So how do colleges consider kids of big money donors and what are the implications? Would you want students of wealthy parents to attend the school if it means money your kid could benefit from the improvements? Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Bruce Poch, Dean of Admission and Executive Director of College Counseling at Chadwick School, a private K-12 school in Palos Verdes Peninsula; he is also a former vice president and dean of Admissions at Pomona College (1987-2010)
‘Greetings From Las Vegas:’ Hundreds Of Vintage Photos And Postcards Tell The Tale Of What Became An Entertainment Mecca
The new book, “Greetings from Las Vegas,” is an informative visual narrative that celebrates the evolution of Las Vegas.
Author and historian Peter Moruzzi uses humor and more than 300 vintage photos and postcards to tell the story of Las Vegas, from its beginning as an old railroad town to one of the entertainment capitals of the world. After the legalization of gambling in the early 1930s, blocks transformed with neon displays that would help cultivate downtown’s identity. The book also looks at the facts and myths that surround how the iconic Las Vegas Strip and nightlife came to be what they are today.
Event:
Peter Moruzzi will be at Wacko in Los Feliz this Saturday, Sept 7, at 6pm, to talk about his book, “Greetings from Las Vegas”.
Guest:
Peter Moruzzi, historian and author of the new book, “Greetings from Las Vegas” (Gibbs Smith, 2019)