Today, we'll start with analysis of today's Supreme Court ruling, which removed federal limits on campaign contributions. Plus, how would a minimum wage hike help California families? Then, the U.S. battles Mexico in one of the last matches before 2014's World Cup, Rick and Kay Warren try to improve Christian churches' handling of mental illness, a new study says kids with lice don't have to miss school, plus much more.
Supreme Court ruling removes limits on campaign finance contributions
In a 5-4 vote this morning, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down federal limits on overall campaign finance contributions. The ruling allows donors to give more directly to candidates and extends the 2010 Citizens United ruling.
RELATED: Supreme Court voids overall campaign contribution limits
For more on exactly what this decision means, and the effect it could have on this year's election, we're joined by Jessica Levinson, who teaches campaign finance at Loyola Law School.
How might a minimum wage boost help California families?
Today in Ann Arbor, Michigan, President Obama is asking for a raise.
In the next two years, he wants the federal minimum wage to rise from $7.25 an hour to $10.10, saying that a higher minimum wage nationally will help families.
California already has already started increasing its minimum wage — it will be $10 an hour in 2016 — but we wanted to know how a wage increase would help families here in L.A.
For more, we're joined by Kokayi Kwajitahidi, director of the child care campaign at LAANE, an organization focused on economic empowerment in South LA.
Additional health care subsidies proposed for San Franciscans
Covered California is offering a two-week extension to April 15th for those who waited until the last minute to sign up for health insurance.
Many people waited to avoid paying the premiums until the last possible moment. If you're on the edge financially, health coverage competes with other priorities like rent. That's especially true in San Francisco, where at least one politician wants the city to help cover the cost of a plan.
The California Report's health reporter April Dembosky has more.
UCLA's Anderson Forecast: Modest job growth, drought impact on city
A new study out todayfrom UCLA's Anderson School paints a grim picture of California's economy.
It's been 23 years without job growth for Los Angeles. That's worse than both Detroit and Cleveland between the 1990-2013 periods. That's not looking good for California.
The authors speculate that this has to do with an underprepared workforce, stagnant population growth and a less than welcoming environment for businesses.
Another factor that could result in economic impacts is California's drought. As of right now there hasn't been much of an impact, but if it continues for a long period of time, it could be noticeable. That would be because of cuts in fishing and manufacturing jobs.
Study author Edward Leamer speaks with A Martinez about the report.
US-Mexico partnership brings water to dry Colorado Delta
For the first time in almost 20 years, the Colorado River is flowing into northern Mexico, and through a dam that usually stops it.
It's part of an agreement between the Mexican and U.S. governments, as well as non-profits in both countries. It's called a pulse flow, meaning a temporary release of water.
KJZZ's Stina Sieg recently traveled across the border to see the effect it's having on Mexico's long-barren delta.
Study: Kids with lice don't have to miss school during treatment
A number of schools around the country allow students with lice to stay at school while treating the pesky bug that preys on the scalps of children.
That might seem antithetical to what we've been told in the past, but a 2010 study from the American Academy of Pediatrics says it's actually OK for kids to stay in school if they have lice.
Dr. Barbara Frankowski is the author of a study examining children, lice and schools and joins us to discuss.
Sports Roundup: DeSean Jackson, Tiger Woods, US soccer uniform woes
The Big 3 has another big decision to make, has Tiger been tamed for good? And the team USA soccer may score on the pitch but not on the catwalk. All this means it's time for sports with Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, who've covered the sports scene for ESPN and the L.A. Times.
Wide receiver DeSean Jackson has agreed to sign with the Washington Redskins, but his route to D.C. from his old team the Philadelphia Eagles has raised a lot of questions.
A feature in the New Yorker on Kobe Bryant has some very angry with the Lakers superstar for his stance on Trayvon Martin.
Four years ago Lebron James got together with Chris Bosh to team up with Dwayne Wade in Miami to create a super team. It's worked out well as they've won two titles and are a favorite to win a third. Now they all have to make another decision.
Tiger Woods will miss the Masters after having back surgery. It's the first time in 20 years he won't play in golf's most prestigious event. He's the world's top ranked golfer BUT he's 38, hasn't won a Major (which is the Masters, PGA, US or British Open) since 2008. The year before his injuries and his martial infidelities flared up. Andy, he's 4 Major titles away from tying Jack Nicklaus' record. Can he still do it?
On Monday, the Los Angeles Angels had their season opener. Hitting coach Don Baylor went out to catch the ceremonial first pitch. What happened? What's the worst injury you have suffered doing something seemingly innocent?
The Dodgers have had a bit of bad luck to start the season as Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw could miss two months with a back injury. How's the baseball season looking for L.A.'s two baseball teams?
Finally, the United States plays Mexico tonight in Glendale, Arizona in a friendly.
The World Cup is getting closer and when Team USA takes the field in Brazil they'll be sporting some new uniforms that have not been received well.
What's at stake in the USA-Mexico soccer match
The U.S. men's soccer team faces Mexico tonight for the latest in a long-running rivalry between the two nations.
RELATED: KPCC presents a World Cup 2014 warm-up: USA vs Mexico
This game is one of the last major games before the World Cup kicks off in Brazil in June. For more on this match and what is at stake, we're joined by Tom Marshall, who covers the Mexican soccer league for ESPN.Com and Goal.com. He's currently in Glendale, Arizona for tonight's game.
U.S. goalkeeper Nick Rimando put together a locker room playlist:
To hear more about the game and our interview with Tom Marshall, click on the "Listen Now" icon in the upper left.
PG&E charged with 12 criminal counts for fatal 2010 San Bruno blast
On September 9, 2010, a faulty gas pipeline ruptured in the San Francisco suburb of San Bruno, sparking a fireball, which leveled 38 homes, killing 8 people and injuring dozens more.
That pipeline was run by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. PG&E was indicted yesterday on 12 federal criminal counts.
For more on what this could mean for energy markets and utilities, we're joined by Severin Borenstein, co-director of the Energy Institute at Berkeley's Haas School of Business.
Sen. Rand Paul urges GOP to get 'beyond deportation'
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is already a favorite of conservatives, but a recent statement may make him a little less popular.
Here's what he had to say yesterday at a symposium sponsored by the conservative Media Research Center and the American Principles Project in Washington, DC :
“The bottom line is that the Hispanic community … is not going to hear us until we get beyond that issue. They’re not going to care whether we go to the same church or have the same values or believe in the same kind of future of the country until we get beyond that ...We’ve got to get beyond deportation to get to the rest of the issues.”
Latino and Hispanic voters are crucial to many Republicans' races this fall and heading into the presidential election in 2016, and Paul is pushing the party to reach out to those voters. For more on how they might do this, we're joined by Republican strategist Luis Alvarado.
Urban sprawl squeezes Pronghorn Antelope out
When we think of the West we picture wide open spaces. But roads, new homes and commercial buildings have cut across those spaces. And that development is having an impact on the pronghorn antelope, especially in one of the fastest growing parts of the southwest — Prescott Valley in northern Arizona.
From KJZZ's Changing America Desk, Laurel Morales reports.
Rick and Kay Warren try to improve Christian churches' handling of mental illness
Millions of Americans grappling with mental illness could find help and support in their place of worship - if it were there. It usually isn't. Two of the country's foremost Christian evangelicals are turning their personal tragedy into an effort to change that, in Orange County.
Blind to movie continuity bloopers? There's a good reason
Movie trivia buffs love to point out movie continuity errors, like when Julia Roberts croissant spontaneously transforms into a pancake in one scene in "Pretty Woman" or Harry Potter's shirt collar changes from a crew neck to a henley in "Order of the Phoenix."
But these subtle changes are rarely detected by the average film-watcher, and according to a new study out of UC Berkeley, that's a good thing.
By filtering out small changes in visual information, the human brain is able to keep a stable and fluid picture of the things going on around us. So we aren't thrown off by small changes like shadows cast on faces or rain drops falling in our field of vision.
MIT postdoctoral fellow Jason Fischer, who authored the report, joins us to explain.
Silicon Valley grows political clout through age-old approach of lobbying
Patent reform legislation could be a reality this year, just one more sign of Silicon Valley's growing lobbying clout in Washington. The California Report's Rachael Myrow looks at how the number and types of companies is expanding and what tops the list of legislative and policy priorities for the tech sector.
Wearable cams spur accidents as thrillseekers push boundaries
Wearable technology can go everywhere you go. Now you can record yourself jumping out of a plane or catching that huge wave, but just how far are people willing to go to get footage of their crazy stunts?
We turn to Chris Dixon, author of "Ghost Wave: The Discovery of Cortes Bank and the Biggest Wave on Earth" and regular writer for Outside Magazine.
LA Heat exhibition celebrates Angelenos' love of hot sauce
If there was a cuisine that defined L.A., you should probably first look into a bottle.
Hot sauces are a regular part of meals in Southern California, and two of the nation's biggest brands — Sriracha and Tapatio — hail from the L.A.-area.
Those and more sauces are getting a tribute at downtown's Chinese American Museum in the exhibit, "LA Heat." Dozens of local artists jumped at the chance to make art specifically for the exhibit, with examples ranging from neon-lit pieces that evoke grocery store signs to actual hot sauces silkscreened onto placemats like paint.
The historic cultural museum might seem an unlikely place to host it, but co-curator Joelle Warlick says it fits into the organization's mission to reflect L.A.'s cultural diversity.
"We're trying to look at different aspects of Los Angeles," says Warlick on Take Two. "As well as just what immigrants like Luis Saavedra and David Tran — the founders of Tapatio and Sriracha — were able to achieve when they came here."
Los Angeles seems to be the perfect place to showcase hot sauces too, she adds, because creativity and energy bubbles through the air.
"When you think of Los Angeles, you do think of nice weather, you think of a hot place," said Warlick. "This also means a place that's hot with excitement. It's a unique place that you can't get anywhere else."
LA Heat is at the museum from now until July 12. Take a tour of the museum through this slideshow, and tell us how spicy you go on your food.