New analysis shows officials knew of westward spread hours before evac orders were given
On the night the Eaton Fire broke out, residents in western Altadena, many waiting for word on whether to evacuate, were caught off guard as the fires began to spread into their neighborhoods. Now, a new analysis from The Washington Post shows that some officials knew about the fire’s advancement into those areas more than four hours before evacuation orders were sent out. The analysis, which examined over 13 hours of radio traffic, pinpoints 30 fires west of Lake Avenue that were reported to officials prior to orders being given. Joining us to discuss the findings is Joyce Sohyun Lee, senior visual forensics reporter for The Washington Post, and Joshua Partlow, domestic climate correspondent for The Washington Post.
Checking in on Pasadena Humane a couple months after the Eaton Fire
Pasadena Humane was a vital resource for many during the Eaton Fire. Through the course of the wildfires, the shelter took on over 1500 animals, provided emergency boarding for nearly 600, and helped care for almost 1000 animals in the field whose owners couldn’t get to them due to the fires. On top of these services, Pasadena Humane’s Goodspeed Wildlife Center, which cares for and rehabilitates wildlife, took on over 80 injured wild animals during the fires — a number the shelter expects to increase this year as so many habitats were destroyed in the fires. Joining us today to talk about their work as well as upcoming events is Chris Ramon, interim president and CEO of Pasadena Humane.
Triple Play: Previewing the Dodgers' season following Japan opener win against the Cubs
Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw five strong innings, Shohei Ohtani had two hits and scored twice, and the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 on Tuesday in Major League Baseball’s season opener at the Tokyo Dome. This was the first of two games the Dodgers have against the Cubs in Tokyo, the next being tomorrow at 3 a.m. Pacific Time. For the Dodgers, their start in Tokyo feels like a full circle moment, with many Japanese tourists having made the trip to Los Angeles last season to watch Shohei Ohtani play for the team. Today on AirTalk, we’ll recap the first game of the season for the Dodgers, and preview this year’s title defense. Joining us today to preview this year's Dodgers is former LAist host Nick Roman, and George Kiriyama, senior editor at LAist.
With files from the Associated Press
A new conservancy and possible lithium mine may breathe life back to the Salton Sea
The Salton Sea is California's largest lake. Although it has been plagued by toxic gases due to its high saline levels and quickly evaporating water, the Salton Sea's surrounding habitat is a vital ecosystem for over 400 species of birds who rest at the lake during migratory flights. This is a main factor in a new conservancy that was established by a bill introduced last year. The conservancy will restore the lake's surrounding vegetation. This will allow the Salton Sea to continue to be a refuge for birds while also helping to mitigate the air pollutants that waft up from the dried lake bed. The Salton Sea is also rich in lithium, a mineral used in electric vehicles and cell phones. A judge recently cleared the area for mining, but local environmental groups worry that such activity will cause more toxins from the lake's dust to become airborne. Today on AirTalk, we check-in on the Salton Sea and learn where developments stand. We're joined by Deborah Sullivan Brennan, reporter for CalMatters and Voice of San Diego.
New report examines the current health and future of California’s Cannabis Market
It’s been a tumultuous few years for California’s licensed weed industry. Now, a new report commissioned by the Department of Cannabis Control provides an outlook for its health and future. The report, which analyzes the 2024 California cannabis market, found that while cannabis consumption and production are increasing, prices for both wholesale and retail cannabis have decreased since the market's peak in 2020. Additionally, despite consumers moving from illicit to licensed cannabis, the illicit market still holds about 60% of the state’s total cannabis consumption. So what might that mean for the industry? And how might the state look to continue to grow its licensed market? Joining us to discuss is Duncan MacEwan, principal economist with ERA Economics and a lead author of the study.
March Madness 2025: Previewing the SoCal teams that made this year’s brackets
Today’s the day the madness starts– at least when it comes to March’s annual college basketball and brackets tradition. Day one of the men’s side of the NCAA tournament starts with two games: Alabama State facing off against Saint Francis, and North Carolina scheduled to play San Diego State. San Diego State’s men's and women’s teams are one of four programs representing Southern California in this tournament; the other schools are UC San Diego, UCLA, and USC. As has become a tradition here on AirTalk, we’ll give you a crash course on local teams who’ve made the NCAA tournament for women's and men’s basketball. Joining us this year is Sabreena Merchant, staff writer for The Athletic covering women’s basketball, and Laine Higgins, sports reporter for the Wall Street Journal.
