LA28 round up: Trump announces a task force, LA leaders debate cost, and a new ballot would require voter approval for “event centers”
The LA 2028 Olympics is getting closer and closer. As we near the finish line of Olympic planning, President Trump announced the creation of a new task force to oversee LA’s preparation. This comes as city officials negotiate the cost of hosting the world event. Additionally, a hotel worker’s union has proposed a ballot measure that would need citywide voter approval of “event centers.” Joining us this morning on AirTalk to discuss is Alissa Walker, editor of Torched.la, which is tracking the city’s mega-event and Olympics preparation and Jeff Mason, White House correspondent for Reuters.
New study links air pollution exposure with dementia
A recent large-scale study published in The Lancet Planetary Health has found that long-term exposure to air pollutants can be linked to an increased risk of dementia. While previous studies identified air pollution as a potential risk factor for dementia, evidence has been difficult for researchers to establish. This new study, which analyzed over 50 independent studies and data from more than 29 million people, found that exposure to PM2.5, a common air pollutant found in car exhaust, wildfire smoke, and other industrial pollution, could increase the risk of dementia. Joining us on AirTalk this morning to break down the new study is Lauren Salminen, Assistant Professor of Research, Neurology at USC.
Gardening 101: Unsure if a garden predator is friend or foe? Here’s what to know!
Do you ever struggle to identify whether an insect or animal is beneficial to your garden? You aren’t the only one! Very often, local gardeners might have a defensive approach to their garden, so that any critters hanging around their plants. So often, people will use pesticides to battle unwanted guests, but that can, of course, have drawbacks for any food you’re growing and any pets you have around your home. So what ways can you better leverage nature to help your plants? Beneficial predators can be one avenue, allowing them to patrol your crops, to stop most of the pests that’ll cause real damage to your garden. Helping us to identify these birds and insects is Karey Windbiel-Rojas, associate director for Urban and Community IPM with the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program.
We also want to hear from you: Do you volunteer at a community garden, or have your own at-home? Do you have trouble identifying pests, or are you seeking ways to invite garden predators? Send us your questions by calling us at 866-893-5722 or emailing atcomments@laist.com.
How does LA’s new school crossing guard system work?
The city of Los Angeles is overhauling how and where it places crossing guards before the start of the upcoming school year. The L.A. City Council voted Wednesday to conduct a citywide assessment of elementary school crossings informed by: safety data, equity measure, and existing infrastructure.These metrics will now inform decisions on where to place crossing guards. It's a significant change, moving the city away from its previous practice of only studying intersections where a school principal requested a crossing guard. But some parents are concerned about this new system leaving gaps at certain schools and how the current crossing guards might be reshuffled. Today on AirTalk, we discuss how the city is assigning crossing guards for the new school year with Kavish Harjai, transportation correspondent for LAist. We also want to hear from you! If you are a parent with a child enrolled in LAUSD, how do you feel about the crossing guard change? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
With tourism down and gambling revenue up, we check in on Las Vegas
Data out of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority shows that trips to sin city were down in June about 11% compared to the year prior. The drop marks the sixth straight month of lagging visitor numbers. But while the number of tourists is down, casinos are seeing gains in their gaming revenue. So what’s going on across California’s eastern border, and how is Las Vegas faring as it continues to recover from the pandemic? Joining AirTalk this morning to answer those questions is business reporter covering casinos and gaming for the Las Vegas Review David Danziz and CEO of the Denstone Group Oliver Lovat.
Is LA a coffee city?
Sure, you can find an endless amount of spots for coffee throughout Southern California but what makes a city a “coffee city?” Gab Chabrán, LAist food and culture writer, Antonia Cereijido, LAist host, ventured into a debate that may not have a right or wrong answer. You can find their piece, Is Los Angeles a coffee city? We try to settle an unwinnable feud, at LAist.com. Regardless of their stances, the question led them to explore some of the movers and shakers within the local coffee scene. They join guest host Jacob Margolis to share their biggest takeaways and whether their stance on this debate changed at all. Listeners – we want to hear from you! Do you think L.A. is a “coffee city?” What’s your criteria? Do you have a favorite coffee spot in the region? Call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
