Burbank Airport suffers cancellations and delays amid government shutdown
If you flew in or out of Burbank Airport in the past couple of days, well, maybe you didn’t! Your flight may have been delayed or cancelled entirely. Yesterday, Burbank Airport went for hours with an unmanned air traffic control tower. Why? Staffing shortages due to the government shutdown. Workers are not being paid so many of them are calling out sick. It’s not just Burbank that’s taking a hit. Airports across the country are facing shortages and travelers are feeling it. Joining us this morning to break down the details is Clara Harter, breaking news reporter at the LA Times and Donald Lewis, retired air traffic controller from Van Nuys airport.
We reached out to the Burbank Airport, but they weren't available to join for this conversation. According to their public information officer, as of this morning, operations at the airport are running normally.
A check in on California’s housing shortage and Measure ULA
California’s housing crisis is still well, a crisis. At this point, scholars and housing experts agree that the shortage is the leading cause of affordability concerns. New legislation aims to make permitting and construction easier for developers, but will it be enough? And how bad is the shortage exactly? Joining us this morning on AirTalk to break down the numbers and update us on Measure ULA, also known as the “mansion tax,” is Ben Christopher, housing reporter for CalMatters.
Digital is out! Film photography is in.
What’s old is new again. Analog has technically been making a comeback in recent years with the regained popularity of vinyl, cassettes, Polaroids, and now film photography. Kodak announced that it is releasing two new color film stocks, signaling that demand for film reels is on the rise again. So why are people dropping their sleek phones and dusting off the old, clunky film cameras instead? Today on AirTalk, we hear from listeners about their newfound passion for film photography. Joining us to discuss is Drake Woodson, owner of Relics Film Lab in Long Beach, and Luis Diaz, general manager at The Icon, a film lab in Miracle Mile.
LAUSD expands innovative school programs
The Los Angeles Unified School District has opened up its CHOICES application window for the next school year, providing families the opportunity to apply for a wide range of specialized programs designed to meet the learning needs of all students. But the “right” school can look different for every student. That’s why here at LAist, we made our very own guide to help parents and students navigate the process. Joining us today to talk about the upcoming school year and the application process is LAist K-12 Senior Reporter Mariana Dale, and Associate Professor of Education Policy at the University of Southern California, Huriya Jabbar.
The LAUSD Choices for the 2026-27 school year will be available through November 14th. You can find more information here.
Anatomy of a ceasefire agreement. When do they work? An expert weighs in.
As a ceasefire agreement takes shape between Israel and Hamas, we take a closer look at what makes for a successful peace agreement. What are the best practices when it comes to mediating between two parties enmeshed in conflict? Even though every conflict is unique and must be approached as such, experts also know from decades of advising on complicated matters that there are certain approaches that they know will yield success. What are those approaches? And what chance does this current ceasefire agreement have to interrupt the violence? Joining us today on AirTalk to discuss is Laurie Nathan, professor of the practice of mediation and director of the Kroc Institute’s mediation program at the University of Notre Dame.
What makes a good diss track?
Last week, Taylor Swift released her newest album “The Life of a Showgirl” with a track that many have interpreted as a ‘diss track’ toward fellow pop artist Charli XCX — creating buzz for what some see as the next great musical beef. But what exactly constitutes a ‘diss track’? What are its components? And what examples can we turn to to better understand their cultural impact? Joining us this morning to discuss is Mikael Wood, pop music critic for the Los Angeles Times.
