What the future of California’s special education programs looks like
As the Trump administration attempts to dismantle the Department of Education, there is fear that California’s special education programs may be impacted. Although President Trump has made no statements on the ending of special education, programs will now be overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services. With reshuffling and funding cuts to government departments across the board, the fate of special education programs in California is unknown. Joining us to discuss the possible impacts the Trump administration may have on the state’s special education is Carolyn Jones, K-12 education reporter for CalMatters.
How will burying power lines affect the rebuilding of the Palisades and Altadena?
As the Palisades and Altadena communities look to rebuild after devastating fires earlier this year, Southern California Edison has announced that they will underground 150 miles of power lines in the areas. While the exact causes of the fires remain unknown, many were quick to suggest downed power lines may have played a role — a theory that the primary power provider in the region has suggested is possible. Undergrounding power lines is seen as a way to protect against the possibility of electric fires. But the process is costly in terms of both dollars and time, with this latest announced project expected to cost at least $860 million and take years to complete. Joining Larry to discuss this project, and how it will affect the rebuilding of the Palisades and Altadena is Erin Stone, LAist climate emergency reporter and Duncan Callaway, professor of Energy and Resources at UC Berkeley.
We reached out to SoCal Edison, but they could not make anyone available for today’s conversation.
The payphone is dead. Long live the payphone!
Today if you're on the go and need to get a hold of someone, doing so is as easy as reaching into your pocket and tapping on their contact information to give them a ring. But back in the day, you'd have to rummage through your pocket for some quarters to feed into a clunky machine in order to secure a few minutes of phone time with them via one of the country's thousands of payphones. Sure, cell phones have proven far more convenient than their payphone counterparts, but there was a certain vibe to standing in a payphone booth and chucking in some quarters, so much so that the booths have become ingrained in pop culture via movies, TV shows, and music. So today on AirTalk, we're looking at the legacy of payphones and their storied history with Fox See, a volunteer and docent at the Connections Museum, which preserves the history of telephones and telecommunications technology. We also want to hear from you! What's your favorite — or least favorite — memory of using a payphone? Give us a ring (don't worry, it's toll free!) at 866-893-5722 or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com
Facing major shortfall, Mayor Karen Bass releases her budget proposal for next fiscal year
Facing a nearly $1 billion shortfall driven by dwindling revenues and increasing costs, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Monday proposed laying off 1,647 workers and closing some city departments in the fiscal year that starts July 1. It's the most austere budget since the city was wracked by the 2008 recession. In her state of the city speech delivered shortly before the budget was released, Bass addressed city workers directly, saying "you are the city’s greatest asset... my proposed budget, unfortunately, includes layoffs, which was a decision of absolute last resort." Joining us to discuss Mayor Bass’s budget proposal and state of the city address is LAist Civics & Democracy correspondent Frank Stoltze. We’ll also dig further into the proposal with Rick Cole, chief deputy controller, and Zev Yaroslavsky, director of the Los Angeles Initiative at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.
With files from LAist
Will movie theaters have a comeback in 2025?
Five years after Covid-19, movie theaters are still struggling to reach their pre-pandemic numbers. The first quarter showed underwhelming box office numbers and indicated cautious consumer behavior. While some theater chains like Damon Rubio’s D’Place Entertainment have seen modest gains over 2024, the broader landscape remains challenging, with box office revenue down 11% year-over-year. The absence of major blockbuster hits—highlighted by the lackluster reception of Disney’s live-action Snow White—has only compounded the struggle. But two recent movies, A Minecraft Movie and Sinners have revitalized the box office. Will it be enough? Joining us today on AirTalk is LA Times entertainment reporter Samantha Masunaga, founder of LOOK Dine-In Cinemas, Brian Schultz, and president of Laemmle Theatres, Greg Laemmle.
Do April showers make you feel dour?
The weather has been playing with hearts here in LA. There was one week in April that teased us with some warm sunshine, but just as soon as we all reached for our sunblock and shorts, last week rolled in with dreary clouds and a chilly breeze. With all the back and forth, it's hard to keep your mood up. We all know that weather impacts our mental health. Waking up to clear skies and a shining sun can set a positive tone for the rest of the day. Everything seems brighter. But cloud cover with zero chance of rain can have you feeling that there is no point getting out of bed. Today on AirTalk, we hear from listeners about how the weather impacts their moods. Also joining us is Kim Meidenbauer, assistant professor of psychology at Washington State University. Are you happy and more productive when the sun is shining? Or does it make you not want to go to work at all? Do you embrace the rain and seize the day even when the sky is grey? Or feel melancholy as the clouds hang overhead? We want to hear from you! Give us a call at 866-893-5722. Or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
