Jet Propulsion Laboratory To Undergo Mass Layoffs
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory on Tuesday announced that it would lay off approximately 530 employees, or about 8% of its workforce, in response to a reduced budget from NASA and lack of a new spending plan from Congress for the new fiscal year. In a memo published on JPL’s website, Director Laurie Leshin said the workforce reduction would also affect 40 contractors. The cuts will extend across JPL and include technical and support areas. Affected employees will learn their fate on Wednesday, according to the memo. As of Tuesday night, it was unclear which missions will be the most affected.
Joining us today on AirTalk is Jacob Margolis, science reporter for LAist.
Fox, Warner & Disney Planning For Sports Streaming Super Team
ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans on Tuesday to launch a sports streaming platform in the fall that will include offerings from at least 15 networks and all four major professional sports leagues.A one-stop app to view most sports should be a welcome sight for fans, who continue to navigate rising costs by subscribing to multiple services. Joining us to give the rundown on what these means for live sports coverage and streaming is Joe Flint, media and entertainment reporter for the Wall Street Journal.
You Might Still Be Suffering From Back Pain Long After The Back Pain Is Gone – Here’s Why
A new study in the journal of pain reveals that the pain you’ve been having in your back for decades might be in your mind, not your back. That doesn’t mean the pay is any less real, but what the study does help uncover is how pain becomes a neural circuit in the brain that can lead us to experience pain even after our physical wounds are healed. The study also makes a surprising discovery that just because some has an abnormal MRI doesn’t mean that’s the source of their pain. So how does one determine the source of the pain? New diagnostic approaches are seeking to do just that, find the root of someone’s pain and instead of “managing” it with medication, eradicate it completely. Joining us today on AirTalk is Nathaniel Frank, author and historian writing a book about mind-body pain to be published by Mayo Clinic Press and author of the L.A. Times op-ed “The pain in your back? It’s really a pain in your brain” and Dr. Howard Schubiner, Clinical Professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and lead author of the new study looking at chronic neck or back pain.
Weed Shops Can Legally Operate In LA But Unlicensed Stores Are Still A Big Problem
Marijuana is legal in California, and you can find a plethora of licensed shops to buy from in the region. But unlicensed stores are still a big problem for the community. Some who work in the industry say enforcement is lacking and legal shops and local neighborhoods suffer as a result. Today on AirTalk we talk about the cannabis landscape in Los Angeles and surrounding areas and some of these challenges and how to potentially solve them. Joining to discuss is Virgil Grant, owner of California Cannabis, a licensed cannabis dispensary, and Brad Thomas Rowe, author of “Cannabis Policy in the Era of Legalization” and a researcher and lecturer of drug and criminal justice policy at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs. If you have thoughts or questions, call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
Zyn Is In - What You Need To Know About The Buzzy Nicotine Pouch
The name on everyone’s lips–or should we say behind everyone’s lips–is Zyn, a pouch meant to be nestled between the lips and the teeth, where it emits a steady stream of nicotine. One of several brands of nicotine pouch on the market, it’s reminiscent of old-school tobacco, but without the mess. “Zynfluencers” have recently popularized the product, lauding it for its nootropic effects (nicotine is a mild stimulant). It’s also caught the attention of lawmakers, with Chuck Schumer referring to it as a “pouch packed with problems.” Why the din over Zyn? And what are its health effects? Joining us to discuss are Priya Anand, reporter at Bloomberg News and Jonathan Foulds, professor of public health sciences at Penn State College of Medicine who studies tobacco products and smoking cessation.
Larry Talks To Zach Woods About Satirizing Public Radio In Peacock’s ‘In The Know’
Not many American news outlets have a solidified tone and style in the way public radio does. For those in our listening audience, they expect that their unbiased news will come with its fair share of gentle cadences and vocal fry. It’s some of these elements that had Zach Woods co-create the Peacock show ‘In The Know,’ that’s as much of satire as it is a love letter to public radio. Today on AirTalk, Larry sits down with Woods to hear about what went into creating the show’s story, its animation, as well as the amount of time spent listening to public radio programs to get it right.
