The poll, which was administered by a collaboration of four public media organizations, shows 71 percent approval of Prop 64. The measure would allow certain sales of marijuana, as well as cultivation taxes; a whistleblower has accused Duke U of using fraudulent data in more than 60 federal grant applications --we'll talk about the findings and the consequences; and are flight attendants equipped to deal with sexual harassment?
Vast majority of Californians lean in favor of marijuana ballot initiative, poll says
A new proposition to legalize marijuana in California may pass this November, according to a recent California Counts poll.
The poll, which was administered by a collaboration of four public media organizations including KPCC, shows 71 percent approval of Prop 64. The measure would allow certain sales of marijuana, as well as cultivation taxes.
Support for Prop 64 contrasts with a 2010 marijuana proposition that failed at the ballot box - largely because of a fear of repeat problems that came with the legalization of medical marijuana in 1996. A lack of details with the 1996 law prevented voters from taking the plunge in 2010.
But that may not be the case this year with such a high approval rating. However, its fate also lies with the types of voters that show up this November - taking into account the presidential race
What do you think of Prop 64? Would you vote “yes” this time around?
Guests:
Jessica Levinson, Professor at Loyola Law School and governance expert
John Hudak, senior fellow in Governance Studies, Brookings Institution - Hudak specializes in marijuana policy
Majority of drivers attest to being better than average, poll says
A new Ipsos survey examines how Americans define and obey the rules of the road - such as the all-holy left passing lane, speeding over 10 miles per hour, and negotiating space with other drivers.
Since most respondents (8 in 10) said their driving skills are above average, the self-reporting data might not be entirely truthful. For instance, when asked how often the respondent, when going at the speed limit or below, changes lanes to let others pass, 60 percent said they often move over and only 7 percent said never. Is that what you observe on the road?
Only 16 percent of respondents said they often drive at least 10 mph above the speed limit on highways, 44 percent said they do it occasionally, and 33 percent said they never do. For the Millennials breakout data: nearly one in five say they often engage in the practice of "slowing down to annoy or educate people who want them to move over."
The good news is that most drivers seem to at least know the rules. About seven in ten seniors (aged 55 and older) and six in ten from younger ages agree that the far-left lane is for passing, not cruising.
Guest:
Julia Clark, Senior Vice President at Ipsos polling firm; she tweets
Fraudulent academic data could cost Duke University millions
A U.S. district court opened a whistleblower lawsuit accusing a researcher at Duke University of including fraudulent data in more than 60 federal grant applications.
The researcher, Erin Potts-Kant, worked in a prominent lab of pulmonary biology on campus until she was arrested on charges of embezzlement three years ago. Most of her work since the arrest has been retracted or corrected for citing “unreliable” data.
The current suit, brought on by the Federal False Claim Act, could fine Duke university up to three times the ill-received funds. Investigators now must prove the questionable data were instrumental in securing federal grants. So far, most alleged fraud cases have been in the healthcare industry. In comparison, false claim lawsuits rarely target private universities and other research institutions. However, this case, if successful, could be a turning point for academics to re-examine their peer-review processes.
Guest host Patt Morrison talks with Alison McCook, who first wrote about the Duke case for Science magazine, and Joel Androphy, an attorney specializing in false claim litigation.
Guests:
Alison McCook, Editor at Retraction Watch, a watchdog for science publishing; she tweets
. She first wrote about this lawsuit in Science magazine.
Joel Androphy, Attorney at Berg & Androphy in Houston, Texas, who specializes in false claims litigation; he tweets
In-flight sexual harassment is a problem. Here’s what airlines can do about it
The movement to bring awareness to sexual harassment and assault on public transport has gained steam in the last several years.
LA Metro launched a campaign in 2015 to foreground the issue and educate riders, and the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority in DC has been working with grassroots groups to tackle the issue.
Despite these efforts, there’s one area of transport that has received little attention when it comes to issues of sexual harassment and assault: commercial flights.
Patt talked with listener Emily in Downtown who shared her experience of being sexually harassed on a plane:
Emily’s experience is far from unique. As with sexual assault cases in general, in-flight incidents are thought to be under-reported.
According to a recent Slate article, the FBI cited 37 open cases involving sexual assaults on aircrafts so far this year, but it’s impossible to get a more accurate number since it’s not something the Federal Aviation Administration tracks. The article also finds that cabin crew are often ill-equipped to handle these kinds of allegations.
"There is a lack of clear guidelines in terms of what an aircrew is going to do," said Manish Madan, Professor of Criminal Justice at Stockton University.
Sara Nelson, International president of the Association of Flight Attendants, said both passengers and airline staff need clear guidelines.
“Passengers need to know... to report it [sexual harassment] to the crew members,” she said. “We [flight attendants] also need training in how to recognize these issues... the victims are not necessarily in a situation where they feel comfortable to report it themselves.”
While flight attendants can restrain a passenger who is a physical threat to others onboard, sexual assault and harassment sometimes falls outside the range of established procedure.
“This is a unique crime,” Nelson said. “There needs to be training around it... how to respond both to the perpetrator and to the victim, to handle it properly, report it and... get that report to the authorities so that they can properly handle it.”
These interviews have been edited for clarity. This story has been updated.
Guests:
Sara Nelson, International president, Association of Flight Attendants
Manish Madan, Professor of Criminal Justice at Stockton University in Galloway, NJ, whose research focuses on sexual harassment and sexual assaults
If it ain’t broke, fix it? Why Apple removed the headphone jack from iPhone 7
Apple announced the latest reincarnation of the iPhone today in its highly anticipated annual event.
Besides the brand new finishes and improved cameras, Apple, like many analysts expected, eliminated the headphone jack entirely from its phones. Apple’s justification for the change is not so different from the historical ones it made before: wires are obsolete, wireless is the future.
But do long-time proponent of Apple products share the company’s desire to be so radical? The upgrade can be seen as a way to sell more accessories by making the Apple ecosystem more contained than ever before. Users would be required to purchase an in-house headphones called “airbuds”, one of the more costly wireless earbuds that are compatible with the new audio connection, or keep the adaptor Apple provided to plug in your wired headphone.
Guest host Patt Morrison checks in with Edmund Lee, managing editor at Recode, on all things new out of the Apple orchard.
Guest:
Edmund Lee, Managing Editor at Recode, a technology news website. He tweets
‘Razor Girl:’ the real life incident that inspired a novel
A woman rear ending a car while shaving her bikini area is an entertaining news story for most, but for novelist and Miami Herald columnist Carl Hiaasen, this was the titular incident that inspired a novel.
Hence, “Razor Girl,” a farcical thriller whose cast of characters includes a “Duck Dynasty”-esque reality show star, a washed up detective turned restaurant inspector (who fans might recognize from Hiaasen’s “Bad Monkey”) and the car rear-ending con artist “razor girl” herself.
Carl Hiaasen joins guest host Pat Morrison to discuss his new book – as well as how his job as a newspaper columnist feeds his fiction and the challenges of writing satire in a political landscape that seems to satirize itself.
Carl Hiaasen will hold discussion at Vroman’s Bookstore on September 15, 2016, where he will also be signing copies of his book. For more information, click here.
Guest:
Carl Hiaasen, journalist, novelist and columnist for the Miami Herald; he tweets