Cal State Faculty, Students, Staff And Administrators Weigh In As Weeklong Planned Strike Begins
Faculty members across the California State University system will be on strike starting Monday. The California Faculty Association — which represents 29,000 professors (tenure-line and otherwise), lecturers, librarians, counselors, and coaches — has told its members to withhold all their labor. This includes teaching, grading, answering emails, and holding office hours. The labor action follows months of fruitless contract negotiations between the CFA and CSU management. To keep up with the rising cost of living, the CFA has sought a 12% pay raise since May 2023. The union also has other demands: raising the salary floor for the lowest-paid faculty, establishing more manageable workloads, securing more counselors for students, and expanding parental leave. Cal State leaders say the system cannot afford a 12% increase. Instead, they’ve pushed the faculty union to agree to a 5% pay raise, followed by two additional 5% raises in subsequent fiscal years. However, those future pay raises would depend on state budget negotiations between the governor and lawmakers. This week’s strike, which is scheduled to run through Friday, represents an escalation in the union’s efforts to secure the terms it seeks. In December, faculty at four campuses — including Cal State L.A. and Cal Poly Pomona — staged one-day strikes. Joining us to discuss is Julia Barajas, community colleges reporter for LAist who is covering the CSU strike.
With files from LAist. Read the full story here.
SoCal History: The California Grizzly Bear
It’s been 100 years since the last sighting of the California grizzly, a subspecies of brown bear that was hunted to extinction. The bear was often characterized as a hulking apex predator, but recent research reveals that the California grizzly was actually smaller than historical documentation revealed, and consumed much less meat than originally thought. The bear’s relationship with humans is a complicated story, and serves as a cautionary tale for conservationists. Even so, the California grizzly is California’s official animal, and bears the dubious distinction of being the only extinct animal to appear on a state flag. Joining us to discuss the history of the bear and whether it could make a comeback is Peter Alagona, historian and ecologist, professor of environmental studies at University of California, Santa Barbara and founder and facilitator of the California Grizzly Research Network.
Migraine Headaches And Those Who Suffer From Them Might Finally Be Getting The Attention They Deserve
Over 40 million Americans suffer from migraines. That is nearly 12% of the U.S. adult population. And yet, research and investment into migraines remains low relative to the disorder and the disability that it produces. Part of the reason might be the ongoing stigma surrounding migraines – Aren’t they just bad headaches? Yes, but imagine a headache that lasts for hours, maybe days, and can debilitate you to the point of vomiting, numbness and trouble speaking. Migraine attacks can vary in intensity and their triggers differ from one person to the next. But those who suffer from them will tell you it’s not just a headache, it’s a migraine headache. Joining us on AirTalk to talk about the difference, why it matters, and new treatments is Dr. Richard Lipton, professor of neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and director of the Montefiore Headache Center in the Bronx.
Checking In On Kern County As It Weighs Becoming A Carbon Capture Hub
Present-day Kern County serves as the largest oil producer in a state that’s looking to drastically drop its reliance on the product, leading local officials to find a way to pivot. One avenue materialized with the Biden Administration’s willingness to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into California for carbon capture projects, which would find ways to store CO2 into the ground. As the county has seeked to take advantage of this presented opportunity, with Kern’s oil producers willing to support, it’s left some residents struggling to get onboard. So what are the likeliest options for Kern to take, considering both its climate and economy? This ongoing conversation was all encapsulated by a recent collaborative piece by KVPR reporter Joshua Yeager and freelance environmental reporter Emma Foehringer Merchant.
Today on AirTalk, Larry talks to KVPR’s environment & health reporter Joshua Yeager, and also get policy insights from Michael Wara, director of the climate and energy policy program at Stanford University.
LA County District Attorney Race: Prosecutor Jonathan Hatami
Incumbent Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón is up against 11 other candidates hoping to take his seat. Gascón was elected for his progressive approach to reforming L.A.’s criminal justice system, but that’s also what’s gotten him in hot water. AirTalk is talking with the candidates running for DA. Today, Larry’s joined by Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami. If you have questions, please call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
The High Stakes World Of The Illegal Cactus And Succulent Trade
Make no mistake, the headline of this segment is not intended as sarcasm. While one might not think that cacti and succulents would be objects of desire to the point that some might steal and smuggle them, in reality these often endangered plants are among the most sought-after in the world by collectors. In his new book “The Cactus Hunters: Desire and Extinction in the Illicit Succulent Trade” University of Alabama Assistant Professor of Geography Jared Margulies introduces readers to the players who make up the illicit cactus trade and the law enforcement agents tasked with stopping them. He explores the reasons behind why some covet these plants, and why some of the people who are stealing and smuggling them view themselves as conservationists, not thieves.
Today on AirTalk, Professor Marguilies is with us to talk about his new book.
