Take Me To The (Atmospheric) River -- Two Storms Expected To Batter SoCal With Wind And Rain Between Thursday And Sunday

The first of two atmospheric river-fueled storms has descended on the Southland, bringing with it flooding and road closures. The storms are standard for this time of year, but a warm patch of water off the coast, likely associated with El Niño, is fueling the potency. The National Weather Service is asking drivers to avoid the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Long Beach area with heavy rains increasing the chances of roadways flooding. All lanes on the southbound Pacific Coast Highway at the McClure Tunnel in Santa Monica are shut down because of flooding and traffic is being rerouted off Oceanview Avenue. In Orange County, flooding has resulted in the closure of the northbound and southbound lanes on the Pacific Coast Highway from Seapoint Street to Warner Avenue.

Today on AirTalk, LAist Science Reporter Jacob Margolis is with us to preview the wet weather this weekend and shed some light on the meteorologic conditions driving it.

With files from Yusra Farzan and Gillian Morán Pérez at LAist.com. Read the full story here. You can also check out resources like a guide to driving safely in the rain and how to know if a landslide or flood is imminent.

Rent Hikes Are Back Today In The City Of Los Angeles After Nearly Four Year Pandemic Pause. Here’s What You Need To Know.

For almost four years, the city of Los Angeles has prohibited landlords from increasing rent on most tenants. But starting Thursday, rent hikes are back. As of Feb. 1, the city allows landlords to raise rents up to 6% annually in rent-controlled housing, which makes up about three-quarters of the city’s total apartment stock. The increases arrive on the same day the city is requiring an estimated 93,000 households to pay back their remaining pandemic rent debts — or face potential eviction. Landlords have lobbied against the city’s rent freeze for years, saying it prevented them from keeping up with rising property ownership and maintenance costs during a time of soaring inflation. Tenant advocates and some elected officials have pushed for lower increases. U.S. Census Bureau data estimates that 54% of L.A. County tenants already pay rents considered unaffordable by federal government standards.

Today on AirTalk, LAist housing reporter David Wagner joins Larry to talk about what tenants and landlords need to know.

Opening Up About Consensual Non-Monogamy

Talking about consensual non-monogamy can be challenging. Not only is there still a stigma attached to open relationships, it can be hard to pin down exactly what we mean when we use the term, since non-monogamy can take many forms, and a unique vocabulary has evolved to describe different relationship types and their participants. Just some of the possible complexities: do you date as a couple, or solo? Do you have a “don’t ask don’t tell” policy? Do you have veto power over your partner’s dating choices? It’s a lot to figure out! So we want to hear from you: are you in a polyamorous relationship? How has it changed your life? How do you navigate its unique challenges? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com. Joining us to discuss is Dedeker Winston, non-monogamous relationship coach who works with individuals, couples, and triads. She is the co-host of the Multiamory podcast, a research-backed relationship advice show that centers non-traditional relationships. Author of The Smart Girl's Guide to Polyamory and Multamory: Essential Tools for Modern Relationships. 

SoCal's Illegal Marijuana Market: Violence, Enforcement, Cautionary Tales And More

The six men found dead at a remote dirt crossroads in the Southern California desert last week were likely shot to death in a dispute over marijuana, sheriff’s officials said Monday as they announced the arrests of five men suspected in the violence.

Authorities discovered the bodies Tuesday in the Mojave Desert outside El Mirage after someone called 911 and said in Spanish that he had been shot, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Warrick said during a news conference. All the victims were likely shot to death, and four of the bodies had been partially burned together, Warrick said. A fifth victim was found inside a Chevy Trailblazer, and the sixth was discovered nearby the following day, he said. Officials said investigators believe all the suspects in the case are in custody. Today on AirTalk, we talk about what drives violence within the illicit cannabis trade, the challenges with compliance and enforcement and whether there are solutions to consider. Joining to discuss is Peter Hanink, assistant professor of sociology and criminology at Cal Poly Pomona, and Bill Bodner, retired DEA special agent.

With files from the Associated Press

HBCU Grads Remember The College Experiences That Shaped Them In NPR Host Ayesha Rascoe's New Book

Growing up in Durham, North Carolina, NPR Weekend Edition Sunday host Ayesha Rascoe didn't know where she wanted to go to college, but she knew she wanted to go somewhere out of state. Despite getting accepted at UNC Chapel Hill, which boasts one of the top journalism programs in the country and was just a half hour away from where she lived, the future journalist knew she wanted to go to a school "where I wouldn't be expected to come home on the weekends." Rascoe ended up at her dream school -- Howard University, an HBCU where she writes that she "didn't have to worry about trying to break into spaces that Black people had been shut out of...it allowed me to focus on what those unburdened by racism generally focus on in college: figuring out who the heck I was!" In her new book "HBCU Made: A Celebration of the Black College Experience," Rascoe compiles essays from a handful of famous HBCU graduates, including Oprah Winfrey, Stacey Abrams, comedian Roy Wood, Jr., journalist April Ryan and others that explore the ways their respective college experiences at HBCUs shaped them as human beings and made them who they are now.

Today on AirTalk, Ayesha joins Larry Mantle to talk about her new book, and her own experience attending an HBCU.

The Los Angeles Black College Expo is coming up on Saturday, February 10th at the Los Angeles Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from over 200 colleges, attend seminars, and even receive acceptance and scholarships on the spot. You can learn more here.

TV-Talk: 6 Shows To Watch Including ‘Mr & Mrs. Smith,’ ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Final Season & 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 Liz Shannon Miller, senior entertainment editor at Consequence, and Dominic Patten, senior editor at Deadline.

This week’s shows include:

• Mr & Mrs. Smith (Amazon Prime Video)
• FEUD: Capote Vs. The Swans (FX & Hulu)
• Kings From Queens: The RUN DMC Story (Peacock)
• Masters of the Air (Apple TV+)
• Genius: MLK/X (Nat’l Geographic, Hulu & Disney+) 
• Curb Your Enthusiasm [Season 12, Final Season] (HBO & Max)