It’s raining in LA. Here’s what you can expect.
Heavy rains have arrived in Southern California, the first of the season. This means slippery roads, sudden slowdowns, and possible mudslides. The rain is expected to die down this afternoon but not before LA gets pounded. Joining us to discuss what we can expect today and in the coming days is Mike Wofford, lead meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Los Angeles and Oxnard.
A monster earthquake in the making
As Californians, we’ve all come to know the threat of ravaging damage posed by the San Andreas fault line if its built-up strain slips all at once to send out massive shockwaves in all directions. But new research actually suggests that the threat is even greater than we could have ever imagined, as a new reality has been unearthed: the San Andreas fault line and the Cascadia subduction zone of the Pacific Northwest are in cahoots with each other. In other words, scientists have found that the Pacific Northwest and all of California could face back-to-back seismic catastrophes. A one-two punch if you will, capable of crippling regions at a time. Here to talk about what exactly this new study could mean for us and earthquake preparedness in SoCal is Dr. Lucy Jones, founder and chief scientist at the Lucy Jones Center for Science & Society.
How do we prepare for an inevitable mega-earthquake to come?
Ever wonder how or what you would do in the event of a mega-earthquake? More than 60% of Californians have learned how to be safe during an earthquake — yet, less than 20% of households have purchased any kind of earthquake insurance. In the real world, natural disaster preparedness can involve a lot more than just ducking low for cover. Structural reinforcement, securing personal finances, and purchasing insurance are all ways to prepare for the inevitable disaster brewing under our feet. Are we not taking earthquake preparedness seriously enough? Today on AirTalk, we want to hear from you! How do you think about the threat of natural disasters, and what (if at all) have you done to prepare for it? Give us a call at 866-893-5722, or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.
California is facing a nursing shortage. What are the causes?
California, much like the rest of the country, cannot keep up with the demand for nurses. And the reasons are complicated. The profession has a high turnover rate, and some argue that accessible education — public schools and community colleges — does not have the capacity to keep up. Meanwhile, private schools, although they have more space, can be too expensive for some. Others argue that the real issue is poor working conditions and understaffing at hospitals. Today on AirTalk, we discuss the many challenges facing the state’s nursing workforce. Joining us is Mark Lazenby, professor of nursing and philosophy, and second dean of the UCI Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing.
LA needs more apartments, but developers are going elsewhere. What does this mean for the housing shortage?
As discussed previously on the program, California still has a housing shortage and it's not getting any better. Today, we’re taking a closer look at apartment construction in Los Angeles, which is petering out. Developers say it’s too hard to turn a profit and many are looking elsewhere, out of state, for their next project. What’s behind the financial challenge? Funding, tariffs, and regulations for starters. Would-be investors aren’t backing the projects they used to, leading to a dip in construction despite a consistently high demand for housing. Joining us today on AirTalk to discuss is Richard Green, director and chair of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate.
Notable AirTalk super fan and actress Kristen Bell joins the program
They say don’t meet your heroes. But they don’t say anything about being interviewed by them! Over the years, actress Kristen Bell has made it clear: she’s a big fan of AirTalk’s Larry Mantle. And today on AirTalk, the Emmy-winning actress joins the program to talk about the next season of her Netflix romcom series Nobody Wants This — and, you know, to meet Larry.
