LAUSD cellphone ban begins today. What does it look like and how are parents and students responding?
Starting Tuesday, student cellphones, smartwatches and earbuds are banned during the school day in Los Angeles Unified School District. LAUSD board members approved the policy in June, citing rising concerns about the effects of phones and social media on youth mental health, bullying and distraction from classroom instruction. The district has left implementation up to each individual school. District officials have said many schools already had bans in place, but at the minimum students can't have cell phones, smartwatches and earbuds out during the school day. Exceptions include students who use cellphones or other technology to help with translation, for health-based reasons such as monitoring blood sugar, and as part of an Individualized Education Program or 504 plan. Students must also have access to their phones during emergencies. The district designated $7 million for schools to purchase pouches, lockers, and other forms of storage for students’ phones. Schools could also opt for the free option of asking students to store their phones, smartwatches and earbuds in their backpacks.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll hear how the first day of the ban is going and how exactly it is being implemented. Joining us is LAist K-12 senior education reporter, Mariana Dale, and Nick Melvoin, LAUSD Board Member for District 4 who is one of the proponents of the ban. We also want to hear from you! If you are a parent with an LAUSD student, how is your school implementing the ban? How does your student feel about not having access to their phones? What are your concerns or questions as a parent? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
With files from LAist. You can read Mariana’s full story previewing the ban here.
To share or not to share? In the age of digital tracking, romantic partners weigh location sharing
Gone are the days of falling completely off the grid. Today, our phones track our every little movement. And for some, having the ability to share their location with a partner is seen less as an intrusion on privacy and more as a symbol of trust — and possibly even a romantic deal breaker. While much has been said about friends and families using tracking apps to keep pace with loved ones whereabouts, what do we know about the technology’s use in relationships? Today on AirTalk, we’re looking at what goes into the decision to share your location with a partner and whether sharing your location has become the newest form of launching your relationship. Joining us to discuss is Gina Cherelus, style reporter for the New York Times. We also want to hear from you! Do you share your location with a partner, or have you since stopped sharing your location? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
With files from LAist. You can read Mariana’s full story previewing the ban here.
SoCal History: From tropical storms to epic floods, we look back at SoCal’s biggest storms
Known for its warm dry air, endless sunny days, and cooler nights, many people flock to Southern California from around the world for its mediterranean-like climate. But come fall, when the Santa Ana winds start and winter rolls around some locals may find themselves surprised by just how extreme and dramatic weather events can get in this part of the country. Tropical hurricanes rarely make landfall in Southern California but there have been a few occasions where the climate, pun intended, was ripe. Then there are the impacts of atmospheric rivers that bring flooding and landslides. When speaking about the worst storms in SoCal history, we have to go back to the 1860s when the “Great Flood” devastated parts of Southern California after weeks and weeks of rain. Joining us today on AirTalk to discuss some of SoCal’s most epic storms is professor of history at the University of Southern California and director of the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West, Bill Deverell and Patt Morrison, columnist for the Los Angeles Times. We also want to hear from you. Do you have memories of some of SoCal’s biggest storms? Call us at 866-893-5622 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Triple Play: Spring training, Dodger dominance, and more
With the 2025 MLB season fast approaching, we check in on new players, injury status, and position switches. Plus, following the dominance of the Dodgers last season, winning the World Series, how are they positioned going into this season? They’ve welcomed a handful of new players onto their roster, including Roki Sasaki and Cy Young. Today on AirTalk, we check in with our Triple Play, Nick Roman, former host of All Things Considered on LAist and A Martínez, host of NPR’s Morning Edition.
A new book explores the legacy of a Dodger legend: Don Drysdale
Don Drydale, affectionately known as “Big D,” played his entire 14-year MLB career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He towered on the pitching mound at six feet five inches, which matched his larger-than-life personality. Now, a new book looks at the life and journey of the baseball player and broadcaster whose impressive career puts him in the ranking as one of the great American athletes.
Joining us today on AirTalk is Mark Whicker, author of the new book Don Drysdale: Up and In: The Life of a Dodgers Legend, which comes out today. Do you have memories or questions about Don Drysdale and his legacy? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
