Pope Francis dies at 88 – how he changed the Catholic church and what he meant to SoCal listeners
Pope Francis, the Catholic Church’s first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor, has died, as announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo. He was 88. Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy. He made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday — a day before his death — to bless thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square, drawing wild cheers and applause. Beforehand, he met U.S. Vice President JD Vance. Joining us to talk about the pope’s legacy are Jennifer Hughes, Professor of History at UC Riverside, and Father Allan Figueroa Deck, Distinguished Scholar of Theology and Latino Studies at Loyola Marymount University.
With files from the Associated Press
World Health Organization drafts plan to address future pandemics, here’s what you need to know
Five years after COVID-19 triggered national lockdowns, economic uncertainty, and killed millions, the World Health Organization’s member countries agreed on a draft “pandemic treaty” that sets guidelines for how the international community might confront the next global health crisis. After the world’s largely disastrous response to the coronavirus, countries tasked the WHO with overseeing a pandemic treaty in December 2021. Negotiations concluded early Wednesday on an agreement expected to be adopted next month at the U.N. health agency’s annual meeting in Geneva. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus heralded it as a historic moment, saying countries have proven that “in our divided world, nations can still work together to find common ground and a shared response.” Following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the country from the WHO in January, American officials were barred from participating in the talks by the Trump administration and are not expected to sign the treaty. Joining us to help discuss the development of this draft treaty is Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, interim director of the Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Threat Management for the World Health Organization’s Health Emergencies Programme, and Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, M.D., professor of epidemiology and community health sciences at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
With files from the Associated Press
Why are summer camps so expensive?
Summer is just around the corner. And any parent knows that if you want your child to be enrolled in a good summer camp this year, you better start booking now. Summer camps have gotten out of hand in recent memory from tuitions that can range to the tens of thousands, to waitlists, to programs filled up before the new school year has even started. Navigating costs and where to send your child for the best experience can be exhausting. So, today on AirTalk, we’re getting to the bottom of the summer camp dilemma and sharing some tips for how to find the right camp at the right cost. Joining us is Henry DeHart, interim president and CEO of American Camp Association. We also want to hear from you! If you are a parent navigating summer camp enrollment tell us what that experience has been like. What are the biggest challenges? What do you look for when determining a summer program for your child? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Is California’s last-resort property insurance known as the FAIR PLAN a goner?
We’re now a few months into the aftermath of the wildfires that rocked Los Angeles and devastated the communities of Altadena and Pacific Palisades. The future of insurance is weighing on the minds of policyholders and industry experts, especially when it comes to California’s FAIR PLAN. This is what’s known as last-resort property insurance; it’s where property owners go when they don’t have other options for coverage. The plan has major losses from the fires and recently got approval to pass on about $1 billion to member companies, and likely consumers, to pay out policy claims. Consumer Watchdog, a consumer advocacy group, has filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Insurance and Commissioner Ricardo Lara over the move. Meanwhile, Commissioner Lara is working to expand the FAIR PLAN and its financial capacity through legislation AB 226, which passed the California Assembly. Today on AirTalk, Jacob Margolis talks with industry watchers about all the new developments, where things stand now and what the future holds for the contentious FAIR PLAN. Joining to discuss is Megan Fan Munce, reporter at the San Francisco Chronicle covering California’s home insurance crisis, and David Russell, professor of insurance and finance and director for the Center for Risk Management and Insurance at CSU, Northridge.
How are young job seekers reacting to the current labor market?
College students and young professionals have found themselves lodged in an uncertain economic landscape that is impacting the labor market just as they’re starting to enter it. Over the last few months, companies have reacted to the potential of tariffs by freezing or holding off on hiring entirely which has limited opportunities for young folks at the start of their careers. This comes as more traditional and secure routes of employment such as tech and the federal government have fallen to wayside in recent months. With their options limited, some have begun eyeing grad school as an alternative to the job market — but in today's economy, some experts wonder if that’s a stable decision. So, what does the current mood in the labor market spell for young professionals in the coming months? Joining us to discuss is Aki Ito, chief correspondent at Business Insider, and Beth Hendler-Grunt, founder and president of Next Great Step, which offers career counseling for college student and recent graduates. We also want to hear from you! Are you a college student or upcoming grad navigating the current job market? Is your child having trouble landing a job post-graduation? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
SoCal History: Coachella is far more than just a music festival location
The Coachella music festival has wrapped, but just because angelenos have retreated from the desert back to their abodes over the San Jacinto mountains doesn’t mean the Coachella valley is empty. Far from it, the region is and was a bustling tourism and agricultural hub well before trendy music festivals descended on the sun-baked landscape. The U.S. date industry found its stride in the Coachella valley area, and many of yesteryear’s celebrities found the region to be the perfect weekend getaway. Joining AirTalk today is Sarah Seekatz, a professor of Mexican American and U.S. History at San Joaquin Delta College and a native of the region.
