The Proposed New Laws We Could See In California As State Lawmakers Close Out Legislative Session This Week
It’s California’s most diverse Legislature ever, and one-fourth of lawmakers are new. But some things never change: Legislators wait until the last days of the session to pass a lot of bills. In recent days, they have sent Gov. Gavin Newsom some significant legislation — to tax guns and ammunition, ban caste discrimination and decriminalize some psychedelic drugs. And before they finish nearly seven months of lawmaking late Thursday (or early Friday), legislators will approve many more bills. Of the more than 2,600 introduced, the most in a decade, nearly 220 had been sent to the governor as of Friday. Newsom has already signed some and vetoed a few others. He has until Oct. 14 to sign or veto the final batch. Last year, he vetoed 169, while signing 997, including some very significant ones. The Legislature can override vetoes, if the bill’s backers can win two-thirds majorities in both the Assembly and Senate. But that doesn’t happen often, and in recent decades almost never. Some significant measures ought to be to Newsom’s liking: He has become more assertive in pushing his priorities in the Legislature — climate change last year, infrastructure and mental health this year.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll talk with Los Angeles Times Politics Reporter Hannah Wiley and Capital Public Radio Politics and Government Reporter Nicole Nixon
With files from Calmatters staff at LAist.com
Calling All Picklers – Has Pickleball Become Too Competitive?
Pickleball, an intriguing mix of tennis, badminton and ping pong, has soared in popularity the last few years, so much so that it can be challenging to find a public court to play on. The city of L.A. is even considering ways to convert public spaces into pickleball courts. Certain parks are bursting at the seams with players calling "next" for a game. There's etiquette you must consider when claiming a court, and this can be intimidating for those who just want to casually play or even just give the game a try. Today on AirTalk, we discuss the rise of pickleball and the evolving culture around the game. LAist's Sharon McNary, a relatively new pickleball player, joins. Listeners also share their experiences with pickleball.
There’s Not Mulch You Can Do About Freeway Noise…Or Is There?
Atwater Village recently secured $2.5 million from the state budget for the construction of a “living sound wall.” Also known as a “mulch wall” — a type of freeway sound barrier made from ... mulch. Instead of concrete, these walls are stuffed with dead plant matter. Proponents say they are more cost effective than regular old concrete walls and just as effective at blocking out sounds. Their construction also produces less carbon pollution. Plus, there’s the cosmetic benefit of adding more green to areas that desperately need it, like a bike path between a freeway and the LA River, which is where the proposed Atwater Village project is intended to be constructed. Los Angeles has a bit of a history with using cinder block soundwalls to reduce noise pollution along freeways. But our city's relationship with mulch walls has been much shorter. About a decade ago, a 600-foot long and 12-foot-by-3-foot wide partition, aptly termed the “Great Wall of Mulch” was built and funded by the City of Long Beach.
Joining us today on AirTalk is Jim Muller, Atwater Village Neighborhood Council and Larry Rich, Sustainability Manager for the City of Long Beach.
With files from LAist. Read the full article here.
Disney, Spectrum Parent Company Reach Deal To Bring ESPN, Other Disney Channels Back To Cable Customers
Disney and Charter Communications announced a deal to settle a dispute that had cut some 15 million cable TV customers off from ESPN and other Disney-owned stations. The two businesses faced a pressing deadline - the year's first ‘Monday Night Football’ game, that would have left a lot of angry football fans if they weren't able to watch the game. It matches the New York Jets against the Buffalo Bills, and many of the affected customers with the Charter-owned Spectrum TV are in the New York area. The companies were seeking to nail an agreement for Spectrum to carry Disney's stations, made difficult by cord-cutting that has cut into cable's audience.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll talk with Wall Street Journal Media and Entertainment Reporter Joe Flint about how the deal was reached.
Too Much Water In The Desert? The Impact of Hurricane Hilary To Our Local Desert Community
Death Valley National Park is closed until further notice, likely until December, after record rainfall descended in the area after Hurricane Hillary. The park, which straddles eastern California and Nevada, holds the record for the hottest temperature recorded on the planet — averaging 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. The storm dumped a furious 2.2 inches of rain Aug. 20, roughly the amount of rainfall the park usually receives in a year. This year’s rainfall broke its previous record of 1.7 inches in one day, set in August of last year. Due to the tropical storm, the park has more than 6 million dollars of repair ahead of them. It’s ironic to comprehend that rain could create such damages in the desert. So, how did this happen? Today on Airtalk, we learn the current state of Death Valley National Park after Hillary and how landscapes are changing with Abigail Wines, Death Valley’s Park Management Analyst and Gabrielle Boisrame, assistant research professor at the Desert Research Institute, a non-profit research organization from the Nevada System of Higher Education in Las Vegas and Reno.
With files from the Associated Press
How To Have Hope When You Have Long COVID
COVID-19 experience long-term effects from the infection. Symptoms vary but can include extreme fatigue, brain fog, difficulty breathing, headaches, dizziness and more. In severe cases, people can end up hospitalized or bedridden. The future can feel bleak for those experiencing long COVID because there's no current cure. This is a feeling Reda Ann Rountree knows all too well, but she's using her experience with the condition to offer others advice and hope. She joins AirTalk to discuss her Los Angeles Magazine piece 'It's All In Your Head:' One L.A. Woman's Struggle With Long COVID." Plus, Dr. Kimberly Shriner, director of Infectious Disease and Prevention at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, joins to detail the latest research on long COVID.
Let’s Raise A Glass…Or Maybe A 13th Century Medieval Goblet…To The Museum, And Hear Your Favorite Places And Exhibits
We’ve all heard of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Smithsonian Museums in Washington D.C. and the Louvre in Paris – but there are plenty of museums that don’t gain international recognition, and they might just be worth a visit.
There’s a Newseum, a MOOseum, and two Brewseums. There’s a Museum of Death, a Museum of Broken Relationships and a Museum of Ice Cream. There’s even a Museum of Bad Art if you want to feel a little better about your own artistic capabilities.
Today on AirTalk, we take listener calls and hear what are some people's favorite museums and most memorable exhibits.