Fast-moving brush fire in Malibu prompts evacuations
A fast-moving brush fire quickly grew to 1,822 acres in Malibu overnight Monday into Tuesday morning amid high winds and extreme fire danger. The Franklin Fire started shortly before 11 p.m. near Malibu Canyon Road and Station Boundary, according to L.A. County Fire officials. City officials said the fire sparked about three miles north of Pacific Coast Highway, and that the cause was not immediately clear. At around 3 a.m., Malibu officials reported that the fire had spread south over PCH, threatening structures by Malibu Pier, Malibu Road, Malibu Knolls and Sweetwater Mesa. A mandatory evacuation order is in place east of Malibu Canyon Road and South of Piuma Road. Also under evacuation orders: the Serra Retreat area.
Joining us to to talk about the fire is Ariel Cohen, meteorologist at National Weather Service, Oxnard and Wade Major, FilmWeek critic for LAist and Malibu resident.
With files from LAist
Future outlook of DEI programs as many begin to end or reorient their priorities
The University of Michigan, whose diversity, equity, and inclusion program has been considered one of the more robust for a public entity, is now considering changing its program as the school struggles to improve the campus climate. Although DEI initiatives and campus climate aren’t correlated, their growing politicization has left many companies choosing to reexamine their goals after lacking a clear vision for improved outcomes. After receiving scrutiny from political activists, Walmart recently chose to roll back some of its DEI policies in the private sector. So what is the future for many of the DEI programs? Will their overarching goals be achieved through focused efforts at this point, or will companies’ pivoting mean that the minor power these initiatives held is gone? Today on AirTalk, we’ll discuss the latest with DEI initiatives and their future outlook with Bloomberg reporter Simone Foxman, and Shaun Harper, professor of education, business, and public policy at USC and founder and executive director of its Race and Equity Center.
The go-to SoCal decoration displays that light up your holidays and the lengths we go to create them
Across Southern California, some neighborhoods welcome visitors with stellar festive displays. Walk the streets or drive through (can't escape L.A. traffic even during the holiday season) to get into the spirit of what is truly the best time of the year. From Torrance, to Woodland Hills, to Altadena, there are plenty of options. Joining to discuss some of the most well-known spots is Yusra Farzan, LAist reporter who has a piece at LAist.com that shares some of the best spots to catch light displays . We want to hear from you – where do you find the best holiday displays and what makes them top-notch? What lengths, for better or worse, have you gone to to make your display stand out? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
Read more: Where to catch holiday light displays in Southern California
New research reveals another source of pollution from the Salton Sea
New research from UC Davis is showing how agricultural practices are contributing to air pollution at the Salton Sea basin. The area is already plagued by nitrogen oxide emissions — a key contributor to smog. UC Davis researchers discovered that soil bacteria in the region’s heavily fertilized croplands, like those in Coachella Valley and Imperial County, release more than 11 tons of nitrogen oxides daily, significantly higher than current state estimates. Fertilizer use in Imperial County, where agriculture thrives in the desert, is especially high, and excess nitrogen fuels soil bacteria that release pollutants. While addressing smog, the research emphasizes the need for better tracking of agricultural practices like fertilizer use and irrigation. The study’s findings also underscore the ongoing health risks in the region, where residents already face poor air quality, with high asthma rates and dust pollution from the shrinking Salton Sea. Joining us this morning on AirTalk to discuss the study’s findings is Ian Faloona, associate professor in the Department of Land, Air and Water at UC Davis and Daniela Flores, founder of the Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition.
What exactly does ‘Best by’ mean? New California law looks to simplify food labels
Have you ever wondered the meaning behind all those labels and dates on the top of food packaging? Whether it’s a “Use By” stamp or a “Harvested On” sticker, it can be a tad tricky breaking down exactly what the labels say about the freshness of the food you’re purchasing. Well, California is hoping to make those labels easier for consumers in the grocery aisle and at home to understand — all while reigning in food waste. In September, the state became the first in the nation to ban the “Sell By” label from food products. The new law, which will go into effect July 2026, will require food products labeled with a date — barring infant formula, eggs, beer, and malt products — to state “BEST if Used by” to designate peak quality and “USE by” to classify food safety. Joining us today to discuss how to differentiate food labels and best food storage practices is Darin Detwiler, food safety expert and professor of global economics food and agriculture at Northeastern University. Do you have a question about food labels and storage? We want to hear from you! Give us a call at 866-893.5722. Or email us at atcomments@laist.com
What are emotional tears and why do we shed them?
People cry for many different reasons. We cry when we're sad. When we're in pain. When we're happy. Even when we're angry. Despite tears being such an innate response, there is still little known about what causes emotional tears and why some people seem to cry more easily than others. Today on AirTalk, we're joined by Ad Vingerhoets, professor emeritus of medical and clinical psychology at Tilburg University in the Netherlands. His research focuses on emotional tears and we'll ask him why humans cry. Are you a big cryer? Do you struggle to shed emotional tears? How does that impact your life, for better or worse? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
