Today on the show, we'll start with the latest in the trial of an SoCal Iraqi man accused of killing his wife. Then, Ft. Hood military base in Texas suffers a second tragic shooting less than 5 years. Plus, a California lawmaker calls for more sanctions against Russia, landslide science is not connecting to county planning in Washington State, why are NFL cheerleaders paid less then minimum wage, plus much more.
Opening statements begin in trial of El Cajon man accused of murdering his wife
This week, Kassim Alhimidi, 49, an Iraqi man accused of murdering his wife in El Cajon, is on trial. The death of Shaima Alawadi made national headlines two years ago because initially the incident was thought to be a hate crime.
RELATED: Iraqi man wails at start of his murder trial
Here with more is reporter Julie Watson, who has been following this case for the Associated Press.
The second tragic shooting in less than 5 years hits Ft. Hood
Yesterday's shootings at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas brought back painful memories for many service members on base.
It's been less than five years since the last shooting that killed 13 and injured dozens more. Yesterday's attack killed three and injured 16. It's raised new security concerns at one of the largest US military bases in the world.
For more, we're joined by Kate McGee, who's been covering the shootings at Fort Hood for public station KUT in Austin.
Report: Foundation funding widens the gap between California's 'rich' and 'poor' schools
New research shows the funding gap is widening between schools in wealthy and poor neighborhoods across the state. The State Supreme Court tried decades ago to level the field when it struck down a funding system tied to property taxes.
But researchers now claim a new kind of inequality has crept back with a vengeance. KPCC's Adolfo Guzman-Lopez has this report.
Ukraine: California lawmaker returns from visit to region
The situation remains tense in Ukraine. NATO says tens of thousands of Russian troops have amassed near the border. And this week, US lawmakers sent President Obama a bill imposing new sanctions on Russia and providing aid for Ukraine.
We're joined by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), who recently traveled to Ukraine as part of a congressional delegation trip.
Landslide science not connecting with county planning
Two dozen people are now confirmed dead in that landslide that devastated the rural community of Oso in Washington state two weeks ago. More than 20 others remain missing.
The Oso slide serves as a reminder for many living on the slopes of the Northwest's Cascade Mountain range, the earth can move at any time, and it often does.
Reporter Ashley Ahearn of our sister station KUOW in Seattle spent some time with residents in Cascade communities.
Ocean debris complicates the search for Malaysian Flight 370
It's been almost a month since Malaysia flight 370 disappeared from the skies.
Since then, there have been multiple sightings — all false — of the plane's of wreckage in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. This made us wonder just how much debris is actually in our oceans. For more on that, we turned to Jenni Brandon, a graduate student who studies biological oceanography at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Why are most NFL cheerleaders paid less than minimum wage? (Poll)
Cheerleaders are synonymous with football games, whether its high school, college or the NFL. But the work of NFL cheerleaders, in particular, doesn't end on the field.
They're also expected to do charity work, make public appearances and stay in tip-top shape, usually at their own expense. In most cases, while also being paid less than minimum wage. That may all change if a Raiderette — of the Oakland Raiders —named Lacy T. has her way. She's currently suing the Raiders for violating California labor laws.
The suit claims that the Raiders failed to pay cheerleaders minimum wage for all hour worked, that they withhold pay until the end of the season, that they require cheerleaders to cover their own expenses, and that they deny them lunch breaks. In addition, the suit claims the team penalizes cheerleaders for minor infractions like forgetting pom poms or gaining weight.
When she first started, Lacy was paid a lump sum of $1,250 at the conclusion of the season. However, the team increased her pay to $2,780 just a few days before she filed suit. In her contract were requirements for her to attend practice three times a week, photo shoots, fittings and 9-hour shifts at home games.
Lacy, and a fellow Raiderette named Sarah G., had originally filed a federal lawsuit in the Alameda County Superior Court back in January 22. The U.S. Department of Labor subsequently began an investigation into the treatment of NFL cheerleaders. In March, however, they closed the investigation, finding that cheerleading is seasonal and exempt from federal minimum wage laws.
"The Raiderettes constitute a seasonal operation, so they're not working year round," said Amanda Hess, who wrote about Lacy's story and the plight of the NFL cheerleader in her latest piece for ESPN Magazine. "They are not necessarily held to federal minimum wage standards."
In March, the Raiders filed a motion asking that the court allow Lacy and Sarah's case to be resolved in arbitration, as written in their Raiderette contract. However, it's unclear whether a California judge would allow this, due to its tenuous relationship with arbitration laws.
"That's a very big legal question in California right now: What arbitration clauses are legal," said Hess. "I suspect that Lacy's attorney is going to argue that the Raiders' arbitration clause in inherently unfair, because the person who will be overseeing the arbitration is NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who is of course paid by the Raiders and all of the other NFL teams."
There are some teams, however, that do pay their cheerleader at least minimum wage.
"The teams are notoriously secretive about their cheerleading squads, but we do know that the Seattle Seahawks were able to pay their cheerleaders minimum wage for all of the hours that they practiced and worked," said Hess.
KPCC's online polls are not scientific surveys of local or national opinion. Rather, they are designed as a way for our audience members to engage with each other and share their views. Let us know what you think on our Facebook page, facebook.com/kpcc, or in the comments below.
Cereal Box Psychology: Why Cap'n Crunch is making eye contact with your kid
You might not notice it when you walk down the cereal aisle, but your child does: You're being watched.
A Cornell University study shows that cereal mascots are designed to make eye contact with you.
For example, children's cereal — placed on shelves that are already lower to the ground — have characters whose eyes are trained to look at a downward angle. That means they're looking directly at kids.
Meanwhile, cereals aimed at adults are placed at a higher height and have characters that look straight ahead, meaning they make eye contact as well. Researcher Aviva Musicus says that it's a clever marketing strategy that can help sales.
"If you show someone a spokes-character making eye contact with you, it increases trust and your desire to purchase that brand of cereal," said Musicus on Take Two.
Knowing that could actually be helpful for parents as well as people trying to get kids to eat better.
"There's a new push to have more marketing for fruits and vegetables," said Musicus, "So, 'Sesame Street' characters are being used to market fruits and vegetables to kids to really encourage them to eat healthier."
Have you noticed this yourself in the grocery store? And what's your strategy for getting your own kids to keep away from unhealthier foods?
State of Affairs: Leland Yee, Jose Huizar, Hollywood Community Plan and more
It's Thursday which means it's time for State of Affairs, our look at politics and government throughout California. To help us with that we're joined in studio by KPCC political editor Oscar Garza.
Let's begin with State Senator Leland Yee, who is charged with gun trafficking and corruption. It was a week ago today that Yee bowed out of the race for Secretary of State. Since then, he and two of his Democractic colleagues in the Senate who are also facing criminal charges have been suspended. What's been the fall out here?
Timing on all this is interesting. This weekend California Democrats were scheduled to hold a big fundraiser, but now that's off?
Speaking of fundraising, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday to loosen limits on donations in federal elections. What does this decision mean for the mid-term Congressional races here in California?
Earlier this week KPCC broke the story that L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar wants to put a hold on a major concert festival that's looking to come to Grand Park this summer. The councilman wants a hold on all permits issued for the Made in America festival until he's been brought up to speed. What's been the reaction since Tuesday's story?
The Hollywood Community Plan has been criticized since the day it was announced by former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and then-Councilman Eric Garcetti. This week the community plan ended with a whimper. What exactly was this plan, what was wrong with it? And what happens next?
There's a new campaign out there targeting independent voters, specifically those who registered with the American Independent Party. A member of the California Coastal Commission wants independents to know that the American Independent Party actually has its roots in pro-segregationist politics. Oscar, tell us more about this.
'Subway to the Sea' passes legal hurdle in Beverly Hills
The so-called "Subway to the Sea" has been in the works for quite some time. Last night, L.A. County Metro passed one of the last hurdles to breaking ground.
For more on the future of the westside subway, we called up Laura Nelson, she who covers transportation for the Los Angeles Times.
Sea stars in Southern California are dying in droves from mysterious disease
A mysterious disease is wiping out populations of sea stars, also known as starfish, up and down the West Coast. It was first spotted in Washington State and Canada, and has spread to Southern California.
It's a problem we've talked about on this show before, but now KPCC's Jed Kim reports on the latest from the hunt to figure out what's causing it.
Urban sprawl: New study finds LA isn't as bad as you think
Maybe you've noticed a new strip mall in your neighborhood? How about a housing complex? A new road?
L.A. is growing by leaps and bounds, but can the growth be called sprawl? A new study says no.
That's one of a few surprising findings in Measuring Sprawl 2014, released this week from the Metropolitan Research Center and Smart Growth America.
To see how L.A. stacked up against some of the other major cities in the US, we spoke with Reid Ewing, director of the Metropolitan Research Center at the University of Utah.
'Mount Terminus' novel explores early days of Los Angeles
"Mount Terminus" is David Grand's third novel. It's set in an Eden-like early Los Angeles at the turn of the 20th century and follows a young Jewish man named Bloom as he develops into an artist in the early film industry.
Grand spent 10 years writing the novel. He joins the show to discuss why he was drawn to set a novel in this unrecognizable version of our metropolis.
David Grand will be appearing April 13 at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
How did Hollywood become a mecca for filmmaking?
The new book "Mount Terminus" tells the fictionalized version of Hollywood history, but we wondered how and why Hollywood ended up in Hollywood. Dana Polan, Professor of Cinema Studies at NYU joins the show to explain.