Shock in Rancho Palos Verdes as power is shut off and evacuation warnings issued
SoCal Edison is shutting off power service for residents in the Portuguese Bend area of Rancho Palos Verdes in response to worsening land movement in the affected area. The indefinite outage will begin at around noon Sunday, and an evacuation warning is in effect. The news shocked many: Residents have been bracing for the worst since the land started to shift more quickly months ago, but many still felt blindsided with less than 24 hours notice. City and county officials responded before the shutoff, including a pledge of $5 million from L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn. They also warned residents that the evacuation warning could quickly turn into an order. Joining us today on AirTalk are LAist reporter Yusra Farzan and Gordon Leon, chair of the Abalone Cove Landslide Abatement District.
Read the full LAist story here.
Linda Deutsch, AP reporter who covered some of LA’s biggest trials, dies at 80
Linda Deutsch, a special correspondent for The Associated Press who for nearly 50 years wrote glittering first drafts of history from many of the nation’s most significant criminal and civil trials — Charles Manson, O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson, among others — died Sunday. She was 80. Deutsch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2022 and underwent successful treatment, but the cancer returned this summer. She died at her Los Angeles home, surrounded by family and friends, said nurse Narek Petrosian of Olympia Hospice Care. Having joined AirTalk in the past, we felt it fitting to discuss her legacy of reporting important trials with Patt Morrison, columnist for the Los Angeles Times.
With files from the Associated Press
Checking in on entertainment industry workers as unemployment seems to be ongoing
Although jobs have opened up since the two major Hollywood strikes, employment since then has created a significant issue for workers who see their unemployment drying up and very little in the way of opportunities. Seasonal work being hard to come by for those without the strongest connections in the industry, has led many folks to consider seeking career changes. So today on AirTalk, we talk to Elaine Low, TV business reporter for The Ankler who’s been following this, and also hear from listeners in the industry who have struggled to find work.
Popular trivia podcast ‘Go Fact Yourself’ comes to LAist
If you love NPR’s Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me, then you’ll want to tune in this coming Saturday, September 7th at 10 a.m. or 5 p.m. PT for the launch of the popular trivia podcast Go Fact Yourself on LAist 89.3 and streaming across LAist’s platforms. Writer and actor J. Keith Van Straaten and comedian Helen Hong, who Wait Wait fans will recognize as a frequent panelist on that show, co-host the podcast which, as they describe it, quizzes the smartest celebrities they know to find out why they love what they love. Already a fan? Come join us at our Crawford Family Forum for a live taping of Go Fact Yourself and see the show in person before it’s released as a podcast. We’ll be hosting live tapings of the show on Saturday, September 21st from 7-8:30 p.m. with actors Chris Grace and Katee Sackhoff and again on October 19th from 7-8:30 p.m. with actor and friend of AirTalk Virginia Madsen and filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld.
Today on AirTalk, Helen Hong and J. Keith Van Straaten join Larry to preview the show’s launch on LAist and their upcoming live events.
California passes milestone cell phone ban, prohibiting use in schools. Will it take hold?
A new bill [AB 3216] requires schools in California to develop and adopt a policy that would limit or prohibit cell phone use by students. The bill builds off an existing law passed in 2019 that allows school districts to limit the use of smartphones in schools. Some schools have already seen higher test scores and lower incidents of fighting. The bill, introduced by Assemblyman Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) received overwhelming bipartisan support and flew through the Legislature. But not everyone is pleased. Students, parents and teachers all have their reservations. The added responsibility of enforcement may be taxing on teachers and parents and children are concerned they won’t be able to communicate in the event of an emergency. Joining us today on AirTalk is K-12 education reporter for CalMatters, Carolyn Jones. We also want to hear your thoughts on the cell phone ban. Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
From the Roosevelt Hotel lobby to touring the world – how LA's LA LOM found their sound
What do you get when you combine the drums and guacharacas of traditional cumbia, the romantic feel of boleros and the reverb and twang of the guitar from 50s and 60s rock and soul ballads with a sprinkle of Peruvian chicha and Bakersfield country? Enter LA LOM, the Los Angeles League of Musicians. The trio of guitarist Zac Sokolow, bassist Jake Faulkner and drummer Nic Baker started out playing as a house band in the Roosevelt Hotel lobby, which they used as an opportunity to refine their unique sound that blends traditional Latin American music with radio hits they grew up listening to on K-EARTH 101. Today, they've moved from entertaining passing patrons and anyone else who'd listen at the Roosevelt to playing sold out shows for thousands and opening for major musical acts like Vampire Weekend and Zane Lowe. This month, they'll be embarking on a tour of the southwest through California, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico before heading to Europe in November to play venues in England, Ireland, France, The Netherlands and more. They also recently signed a record deal with Verve Records and just released their eponymous debut album last month.
Today on AirTalk, the boys of LA LOM stop by to talk with Larry about their journey from hotel lobby to signing with a major record label, their unique blend of genres and sounds and what's next for this band on the rise.
