Passenger jet with 64 aboard collides with Army helicopter while landing at Reagan Airport near DC
An American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided Wednesday with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, prompting a large search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River. There were multiple fatalities, according to a person familiar with the matter, but the precise number of victims was unclear as rescue crews hunted for any survivors. Three soldiers were on board the helicopter, an Army official said. There was no immediate word on the cause of the collision, but all takeoffs and landings from the airport were halted as dive teams scoured the site and helicopters from law enforcement agencies across the region flew over the scene in a methodical search for bodies.
With files from the Associated Press.
Should California suspend some housing laws to speed up the rebuilding process?
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted Tuesday to ask the state to suspend some building requirements in areas ravaged by recent wildfires as they try to cut back on red tape for returning residents. The motion calls for the suspension of provisions that require solar panels on new single-family homes and low-rise buildings, in addition to battery storage systems. It also asks the state to suspend public input meetings on affordable housing projects in the burn areas, as well as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and density requirements. The motion — put forward by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Lindsay Horvath — argued that "unprecedented strategies" are needed to reduce barriers for rebuilding efforts. But housing advocates say the move could lead to fewer housing units — especially if density requirements are waived — and less state oversight of the rebuilding process. Joining us on AirTalk to discuss is Scott Epstein, director of policy and research for Abundant Housing L.A. We also want to hear from you? Should LA County receive an exemption on some state housing laws for the rebuilding effort? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
With files from LAist.com
Travel icon and enthusiast Rick Steves has a new memoir ‘On the Hippie Trail’
Let’s take a trip back in time to the 1970s when Rick Steves, the beloved travel writer who’s guided us all over Europe, is a mere 23 years old. That’s when he backpacked the notorious “Hippie Trail,” which was when he became what he describes as a travel writer in training. His new memoir out next week, On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer (Rick Steves; 1st edition (February 4, 2025), details that trip as on that changed his life. Steves joins Larry to discuss.
Listen back: Summer Travel Tips With Rick Steves
Rick will be discussing the book at two upcoming events:
- Writers Bloc at the John Adams Middle School (JAMS) Performing Arts Center in Santa Monica on Saturday, Feb. 8. Learn more here.
- Book Soup at First Congressional Church near Macarthur Park on Sunday, Feb. 23. Learn more here.
A poll of college faculty across the country reveals that fear and self-censorship are rampant
Only 20% of faculty say a conservative would fit well in their department. That’s according to a new survey of 6,269 faculty members at 55 major colleges and universities from the non-profit Foundation for Individual Rights in Expression. Their latest report revealed a fraught and divisive atmosphere on college campuses. The survey also looked at the most contentious issues on campus and by far the most challenging topic for faculty is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Joining us today on AirTalk is research fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Expression (FIRE), Nathan Honeycutt.
What to expect from the 2025 Grammy Awards this weekend
2024 was a big year in music. From Beyoncé’s much anticipated country album “Cowboy Carter,” to Charli XCX’s break into the mainstream with “Brat” summer, to one of the biggest rap beefs of the century that resulted in Kendrick Lamar’s hit song “Not Like Us.” Not to mention the meteoric rise of both Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter. 2024 was the year pop music became popular again. The Grammy Awards are this weekend, and with so many great songs and albums to celebrate this year, it’s hard to predict who will take home the top prize of album of the year. Today on AirTalk, we’re previewing the Grammys with executive director of music at Billboard, Jason Lipshutz. He’ll let us know who the nominees are, who he thinks has the best chance of winning, what performances we should look forward to.
TV Talk: ‘Paradise,’ ‘Funny Woman,’ ‘Elsbeth,’ and more!
Have you felt completely overwhelmed when deciding what new show to watch these days? Us too. There’s just so much content out there between network TV and numerous streaming platforms. Each week, we will try to break through the noise with TV watchers who can point us to the must-sees and steer us clear of the shows that maybe don’t live up to the hype. This week, listeners will get the latest scoop on what’s worth watching with Whitney Friedlander, freelance entertainment writer and Jen Chaney, television writer for Vulture.
