New report finds electricity bills continue to rise
California Public Utilities Commission’s Public Advocates Office put together its Q2 electricity rates report, laying out that summer months have become more costly than prior years. Although the focus is centered on the state’s three largest electric companies, these growing costs have continued to be an issue for every Californian as the heat continues to become a growing issue alongside man-made climate change. Today on AirTalk, we get into the basics of the report, and its implications with Severin Borenstein, professor and faculty director of the Energy Institute at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, and Linda Serizawa, interim director and deputy director of energy for the Public Advocates Office.
60 years later, we remember The Beatles' legendary 1964 Hollywood Bowl concert
This Friday marks the 60th anniversary of The Beatles’ iconic 1964 performance at The Hollywood Bowl. The performance was a turning point of sorts for outdoor rock concerts and a footnote in the band’s rapid rise to fame in the U.S. Today on AirTalk, we listen back to some live recordings of The Beatles at the Bowl. Martin Lewis, one of the world’s leading Beatles scholars, who’s also worked as a producer, marketing strategist, writer and human rights activist, joins Larry to discuss the impacts of the concert, some of the interesting connections to the band and Los Angeles, and overall how the group has stood the test of time.
Martin Lewis is the creator and narrator of an illustrated TED Talk called “The Greatest Beatles Story NEVER Told,” which celebrates the 60th anniversary of The Beatles at The Hollywood Bowl. The event takes place Friday, Aug. 23 between 7:30-9 pm at the Philosophical Research Society. Learn more here.
New settlement could impact the future of real estate commissions, here’s what to know
Although the policy has been unofficially available, many buyers have been unaware of the flexibility they really have when it comes to negotiating commissions with real estate agents. For many, the final compensation for such services come second to the home itself, which inevitably has create a standardized price tag regardless of perceived effort the buyer finds from their agent. So when the National Realtor Association decided to settle a recent lawsuit tied to commission rates, it meant that the industry practice of cooperative compensation could be made into more of a negotiation. Given this policy change, it leaves one wondering whether this’ll impact overall costs or housing inventory. So helping us to better understand this policy change is Jamie Bridgers, local real estate agent for the firm Compass, and Miguel Delgado, associate professor of economics CSU Channel Islands and board member for the Housing Opportunities Made Easier (HOME).
What is the latest on the weight loss medication shortage and people’s use of alternative drugs?
The popularity of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are not going away anytime soon. And the increasing demand has caused these name brand medications to be put on the FDA shortage list. In recent weeks, the drugs’ supplies have steadied, but limited access is still a major issue for some patients. Some people are turning towards compounding pharmacies for approximation drugs that promise to deliver the same results. However, these compound drugs are not exact copies and have not been approved by the FDA. Although compound drugs in general can be prescribed when the official medication is unavailable or lacking in some way for an individual that needs it, many fear that these pharmacies are taking advantage of consumers, offering drugs that, when injected incorrectly, can lead to harm.
Today on AirTalk, we talk about the latest happenings with the weight loss drug industry, and discuss the issues around using compounded drugs as a solution. Joining us is Eunjoo Pacifici, chair & associate professor of Regulatory and Quality Sciences at the USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Dr. Scott Kahan, Director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness in Washington, D.C and a faculty member at the George Washington University School of Medicine.
The risks and rewards of AI are spelled out in a new book
The risks and rewards of AI are the subject of roboticist Daniela Rus and science writer Gregory Mone’s new book. On the one hand, what if AI can decode the language of whales and discover new life-saving drugs faster and with more precision than we ever thought possible? On the other hand, what if AI takes our jobs and upends our society in ways we can’t even imagine?Artificial intelligence generates both fear and promise, dread and excitement. But how does AI actually work and would a better general understanding of it assuage some of those fears? Joining us today on AirTalk is co-author of The Mind's Mirror: Risk and Reward in the Age of AI, roboticist Daniela Rus. Do you have comments or questions? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us atcomments@laist.com.
