Today on AirTalk, we're getting the latest updates on the west coast fires and smoke conditions. Also on the show, our FilmWeek critics discuss the weekend's releases; we answer your COVID-19 questions; and more.
West Coast Fires: Where Things Stand And What To Know About SoCal’s Air Quality
The Bobcat Fire burning in the Angeles National Forest is throwing more smoke and ash into the skies above Southern California.
The out-of-control fire, which broke out Sunday above the city of Azusa, more than doubled in size overnight. Evacuation warnings remain in place for several cities and communities in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Crews hope to take advantage of low winds forecasted for the next few days to draw some containment around the flames, and protect nearby foothill communities under evacuation warnings.
The North Complex fire near the small city of Oroville that exploded in wind-driven flames earlier in the week was advancing more slowly Friday after the winds eased and smoke from the blaze shaded the area and lowered the temperature, allowing firefighters to make progress, authorities said. However, the smoke made for poor visibility and fire helicopters couldn’t fly Thursday. Throughout California, red flag warnings of extreme fire danger because of hot, dry weather or gusty winds were lifted. Deadly wildfires in heavily populated northwest Oregon were growing, with hundreds of thousands of people told to flee encroaching flames while residents to the south tearfully assessed their losses. The number of people evacuated statewide because of fires rose to an estimated 500,000 — more than 10 percent of the state’s 4.2 million people, the Oregon Office of Emergency Management reported late Thursday. Today on AirTalk, we discuss where things stand with fires raging across the west coast, what it means for SoCal’s air quality and how to protect yourself. Do you have questions? Call 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press and LAist
Guests:
Philip Fine, deputy executive officer for planning and rules with South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD)
David Dantic, captain with the Los Angeles County Fire Department
Lynne Tolmachoff, spokesperson for CAL FIRE; she tweets
Erin Ross, science reporter for Oregon Public Broadcasting, she’s been covering the latest on the wildfires from the Portland area; she tweets
Ed Avol, professor of clinical preventive medicine and chief of the environmental health division at USC, his research focuses on the effects of airborne pollutants in populations at risk
COVID-19 AMA: The Virus And The Brain, Plus How Early COVID May Have Been In LA
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center.
Topics today include:
Latest numbers in the U.S.
UCLA study finds COVID may have been circulating in LA in December
How COVID-19 impacts the brain
L.A. County says trick-or-treating no longer banned, but now not recommended
NYT op-ed: The Coronavirus Is Mutating, and That’s Fine (So Far)
U.S. to end enhanced coronavirus screening of airline passengers arriving from overseas
CDC study: Adults with Covid-19 about 'twice as likely' to say they have dined at a restaurant
AstraZeneca paused its vaccine to review safety
How important is it to get a flu shot this year?
Tape published of Trump purposefully playing down the threat of COVID-19 to not create panic - from a public health perspective, how should messaging balance honesty and not creating panic?
Guest:
Peter Chin-Hong, M.D., infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center; he tweets
Our City Has Been Transformed By COVID-19— But We Still Love L.A. And Its Iconic Boulevards
Century Boulevard, Victory Boulevard, Santa Monica Boulevard, Sixth Street. We love them all, and more.
Los Angeles is known for its 14 lane freeways as much as its long, palm tree-studded boulevards, which have been the subject of fascination and fantasy in film for decades. But for Angelenos, our streets are also the bedrock of our communities. They house family and friends, some of L.A.’s best restaurants, nightlife and all sorts of community gathering places. COVID-19 has severely altered our relationships to L.A.’s streets, but we want to know— what are your favorites in L.A.? What kinds of memories do you attach to particular boulevards, roads, even freeways in the city?
We want to hear from you. Share your memories and reflections by calling us at 866-893-5722 or leave a comment below.
FilmWeek: “The Broken Hearts Gallery,” Buoyancy,” “Sibyl,” And More
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Christy Lemire and Peter Rainer review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.
"The Broken Hearts Gallery" at Mission Tiki Drive-In Theater (Montclair), Van Buren Drive-In Theater (Riverside), Paramount Drive-In Theater (Paramount), Rubidoux Drive-In Theater (Riverside) & Vineland Drive-In Theater (City of Industry)
"Unpregnant" HBO Max
"I Am Woman" on VOD (iTunes, Google Play, FandangoNOW & Vudu)
"The Public" on Peacock - September 15
"The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts The Tonight Show" on Peacock
"Surge" on Showtime
"DTF" on VOD (iTunes)
"Coastal Elites" on HBO
Our FilmWeek critics have been curating personal lists of their favorite TV shows and movies to binge-watch during self-quarantine. You can see recommendations from each of the critics and where you can watch them here.
Guests:
Christy Lemire, film critic for KPCC, RogerEbert.com and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ podcast; she tweets
Peter Rainer, film critic for KPCC and the Christian Science Monitor
How Is Storytelling Going To Change After The Pandemic? Guillermo Del Toro Says For The Better
Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillmero Del Toro has made a name for himself creating award-winning films like “Pan’s Labyrinth” and “The Shape of Water.” Del Toro was in the middle of shooting his next movie “Nightmare Alley” when the coronavirus shut down production. So what’s Del Toro doing now? Staying at home like the rest of us.
Even during a time when all seems hopeless and we’re stuck at home, Del Toro says it's storytelling that’s helping us through the pandemic. He’s been rewatching movies and binging whatever’s on streaming. Post-coronavirus, storytelling might look a little different. Studios and creatives will have to accommodate their production visions to provide a safe and healthy working environment for staff and crew. The pandemic has turned the world upside down, and that’s a collective experience we all share that could shape the stories audiences want to see. But Del Toro says the pandemic will not hinder creativity and he’s excited to see what stories will we be able to see on the big screen in a post-coronavirus world. John Horn spoke with filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro for the LAist podcast “Hollywood, The Sequel” about how the pandemic has changed the film industry.
Today on FilmWeek, we preview their conversation discussing how storytelling might change after the pandemic, creating a safe production environment, and what Del Toro misses about life before the virus.
With contributions from John Horn
Guest:
Guillermo Del Toro, Oscar-winning director, writer and producer whose filmography includes “Pan's Labyrinth” and “The Shape of Water”