Massive Fire Closes The I-10 Freeway Causing Transportation Disaster For Angelenos
Los Angeles city leaders are warning of major traffic congestion after "extensive damage" from a fire on Saturday morning in downtown indefinitely shut down both directions of the 10 Freeway between the East L.A. connector and Alameda Street. The key regional connector currently sees about 300,000 cars a day, underscoring the dramatic effect of the disaster. At a press briefing Monday morning, California State Transportation Agency Secretary Toks Omishakin said the Office of the State fire Marshal is expected to complete its investigation on Monday. Overnight crews finished shoring the bridge and it will be now determined whether the bridge must be demolished or can be saved with repairs.
Read the full LAist story here.
Climate Monday: It’s Been Five Years Since The Woolsey Fire, Plus Major Rain Expected This Week
It’s been five years since the Woolsey Fire tore across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, killing three people and destroying more than 1,600 structures. Since then, we’ve been forced to adapt to living with devastating fires year after year across the state, making things quite different now than they were on Nov. 8, 2018.
Today on AirTalk, we discuss a few of the things that have changed when it comes to living with fire in Southern California. Plus, anywhere from one to five inches of precipitation could fall across the region this week, as we get hit by our first atmospheric river in some time. The storm's showing up about three weeks before our expected rainy season. Rains shouldn't be that intense, but residents should be on the lookout for the typical hazards that can pop up, as isolated, heavy pockets of rain can result in debris flows and obstructions on canyon roads. Joining to discuss these climate stories is Jacob Margolis, LAist science reporter and host of “The Big Burn” podcast.
Read Jacob’s story on the anniversary of the Woolsey fire here and his story about expected rain here
Extra, Extra! Read All About It! How American GIs Told Their Own Stories in Newspapers During World War II
At a time when censorship prevented civilian correspondents from fully covering World War II, then-U.S. Army Chief of Staff George Marshall convinced President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to create a newspaper program that would allow members of the military to cover the conflict themselves. From the 59th Latrineogram to the Hospital Gauzette to the Stars and Gripes, these publications and the soldiers who created and wrote for them fought not only censorship, but propaganda, and told their stories in their own words. In her new book "The War of Words: How America's GI Journalists Battled Censorship and Propaganda to Help Win World War II," New York Law School Associate Law Professor Molly Manning explores the history of these newspapers, which numbered more than 4,600.
Today on AirTalk, Molly Manning joins Larry Mantle to talk about her new book, the stories of the soldiers who created and wrote for these newspapers and the role they played in telling the true story of American fighters’ experiences during World War II.
Latest On Santa Ana Recall As Voting Ends Tuesday
An Orange County Superior Court judge last week denied a voter's request to halt a controversial recall election against Santa Ana city council member Jessie Lopez, with the recall voting period set to end this Tuesday. The court rejection came after council members and county registrar Bob Page were unable to settle the situation which was first complicated by Page’s note that the 2020 redistricting process may have meant that some votes supporting the recall could be interpreted as invalid. The largest supporter of the recall has been the Santa Ana police union, which spent $500,000 dollars in recalling Lopez following her decision not to support salary increase for those in the union.
Today on AirTalk, Larry gets into this unique recall election with Jill Replogle, LAist senior correspondent covering Orange County.
SoCal History: The Significance Of The Tustin Airfield Hangars
Orange County is still in a state of emergency after smoke and debris from the Tustin hangar fire tested positive for asbestos and other toxins last week. Tustin schools remain closed.
The fire broke out at Tustin’s Marine Corps Air Station early Tuesday morning, irreparably damaging one of two historic blimp hangars there. The hangars were built in 1942 to hold Lighter-Than-Air aircrafts, or LTAs, that patrolled the U.S. coastline during World War II. At 17 stories high, more than 1,000 feet long, and 300 feet wide, the hangars were two of the largest wooden structures in the world. They’ve been mostly vacant since the base was decommissioned in 1999, sometimes serving as a shooting location for films and commercials. Now, the north hangar (Hangar 1) will have to be demolished completely. The south hangar (Hangar 2) is still standing, but there are no current plans to preserve it. The Marine Corps community is reeling from the loss. Joining Larry to discuss the hangars’ history, significance, and the fight for preservation are Brian Delahaut, retired Marine Colonel stationed at Tustin between 1983 and 1995, and Chris Jepsen, local historian and president of the Orange County Historical Society. What are your memories of the hangars? Call and share at 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
