New investigative reporting looks into how California’s dangerous drivers can keep their licenses
A new investigative piece by CalMatters reporter Robert Lewis found that nearly 40% of the drivers charged with vehicular manslaughter since 2019 have a valid license. That statistic was part of a much greater look into how the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles hasn’t properly included vehicular manslaughter or other fatal, car-related crimes, in hundreds of drivers’ records. Through his reporting, Lewis also found that the DMV has struggled to track long-term patterns with many of these dangerous drivers. Today on AirTalk, we’ll talk to CalMatters investigative reporter Robert Lewis about his findings.
You can read Robert’s piece “Licensed to Kill” by clicking here; the piece is part of a larger series of stories also titled “Licensed to Kill,” which examines why the state lets so many dangerous drivers stay on the road.
Mosquito season is here! And with it comes new research and efforts to quell their thirst
As the weather gets warmer, the mosquitos start to swarm. With shorter winters and hotter summers, mosquito season is expanding and with it the increased risk of mosquito borne diseases. For California, the warming climate has also brought a new species of mosquito, the Aedes aegypti, known for carrying dengue and yellow fever. But it's not all bad news. Many places, LA County included, have started sterilization programs to make male mosquitoes infertile in an effort to decrease these invasive populations. Recent studies also show that there may be a drug that poison mosquitos as they feast on you. Today on AirTalk, we’re checking in on California's mosquito population and the recent advances to help deter population growth. Joining us are Susanne Kluh, General Manager for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District and Geoff Attardo, associate professor of entomology at UC Davis.
Money, money, money — should you lend your hard-earned cash to friends and fam?
We’ve all been there. A dear friend or relative has mustered up the courage to ask you for a little financial assistance. And now you’ve found yourself in a bit of a bind. Should you lend them the money? Or do you find a polite way to decline your loved one in their time of need? And if you do dish out the loan, should you ever expect to see that money again? Today on AirTalk, we want to hear from you! What is the etiquette when it comes to lending friends or family money? What has been your experience? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
LA28 Update: Venue changes, competition plans, and other Olympic updates
The Olympics, while still 3 years away, are creeping up on us faster than we might think. Sites are being approved, venues secured, and the program locked in. But the planning has been without its glitches. Last week, one of the cornerstone venues for the LA28 games fell through when Santa Monica and the LA28 organizing committee failed to reach an agreement to satisfy all parties. Santa Monica State Beach was poised to host beach volleyball, one of the most popular sports of the summer games, but agreement could not be reached. LA28 is expected to announce a new venue this week. Joining us this morning on AirTalk for an update on the LA28 Olympic Games is Thuc Nhi Nguyen, staff writer at the LA Times where she covers sports and Janice Hahn, LA County supervisor and chair of the Metro board of directors.
SoCal history: SoCal's mid-century motel architectural marvels
While travelers today have no shortage of accommodation options available right from their smartphones, motorists at the dawn of the American automobile era may have realized they missed a right turn quite a way back and needed a quick and convenient place to rest ASAP. Enter the motor hotel — later shortened to just "motel" -- where a quick glance at a neon lit vacancy sign would let weary travelers know whether or not the money in their pocket could be translated into a good night's sleep. But while the beds may have been cheap, the scenery was not; many motels built during the mid-century period captured patron's hearts with a sense of architectural wonder. Their enduring aesthetics have seen them become filming locations, retrofitted malls, and even listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Joining Larry to talk about the history of these motels and why their designs have stood the test of time is Adrian Scott Fine, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Conservancy.
New Book explores baseball star Shohei Ohtani’s debut season with the Dodgers
When it comes to baseball, there’s no one quite like Shohei Ohtani — the superstar player who made his MLB debut in 2018 playing for the Los Angeles Angels. In recent years, Ohtani-mania has spread across the city, especially after his move to the Dodgers for the 2024 season. Now, a new book by the Orange County Register’s Dodgers beat writer, Bill Plunkett, titled L.A. Story: Shohei Ohtani, The Los Angeles Dodgers, and a Season for the Ages (Triumph Books, 2025), takes a deep-dive into Ohtani’s dramatic, historic, and fan-driven first season with the boys in blue.
