Today on the show, we'll look at the next steps after Clippers owner Donald Sterling's lifetime ban from the Clippers. Also, why hadn't Sterling's past transgressions spurred a reaction from the NBA? Then, the US Army is reviewing earlier women's hairstyle guidelines after criticism that it discriminated against black women. Plus, why are book subtitles getting longer? A new study says mice fear male researchers more than female researchers, and much more.
Sterling Controversy: Clippers owner's strangely uncontested life
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has issued a lifetime ban and a $2.5 million dollar fine to Clippers owner Donald Sterling, after the fallout from his racial comments made public through an audio recording.
This case is closed and we can all get on with the playoffs, right? Not so fast. Even with the commissioner's ruling, there are lots of questions about next steps for the Clippers and the league to move forward.
For more on this, we're joined now by Kevin Arnovitz, NBA editor for ESPN.com.
Donald Sterling's Uncontested Life
Even though the NBA has issued its decision on Donald Sterling, many questions remain.
For one, with such a long and poor track record of racial discrimination, why didn't the NBA take any sanctions against Sterling until now? It's question our next guest Peter Keating has been asking for a long time.
Back in 2009, he wrote a long article for ESPN Magazine titled "Behind the Seemingly Uncontested Life of Clippers Owner Donald Sterling."
Military to review banned hairstyles after criticism from African American soldiers
The U.S. military says it will review a new policy restricting the kind of hairstyles soldiers can wear. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel made the announcement this week after the policy drew criticism for being racially biased.
It would ban hairstyles commonly worn by African American women, such as braids and cornrows.
In a letter dated yesterday, April 29, 2014 and addressed to members of the Black Caucus, Hagel addressed concerns from lawmakers:
"I want to assure you that, while none of the Army's revised grooming and appearance policies were designed or intended to discriminate or disparage against any Service members, I take your concerns very seriously."
Hagel also pledged to review hairstyle policies "as they pertain to African American women."
For a look at this latest development, we’re joined by Jesse Holland, race and ethnicity reporter with the Associated Press.
University Of Washington's secret society of undocumented 'Dreamers'
There's no special handshake. No code word. But for one secret group on the University of Washington campus, identification papers are a common denominator. Or rather, a lack of papers.
The University's "Purple Group" is for students who came to the country illegally. They're often called "dreamers." This type of student group has become more common on college campuses in the past decade.
As Liz Jones of Seattle public station KUOW reports, some of these groups remain more hidden than others.
Samsung versus Apple patent trial goes to jury
The most recent legal battle between Apple and Samsung could be coming to an end soon.
They've been in court arguing over software features on some of the most popular smart phones on the market. Each company is looking to dominate the smartphones, a market worth $330 billion annually. Closing arguments were heard yesterday, and now the jury is deliberating.
Shara Tibken, senior writer with CNET, joins the show from the courthouse in San Jose.
Clippers fans react to Donald Sterling's punishment
Basketball fans packed Staples Center last night for the Clippers playoff game against the Golden State Warriors, after what was a chaotic day for the team.
Just that morning, the NBA handed down a stiff penalty on owner Donald Sterling, banning him for life and fining him $2.5 million, the maximum allowed by the league. For many Clipper fans the punishment was seen as a positive moment for the team and the city.
KPCC’s Erika Aguilar spent the day getting some of their reactions.
What did fans at the game think about the sanctions against Sterling?
A handful of people talked about the right to privacy, the right to know whether you're being recorded or not, but a lot more people were just saying that they were happy with Silver's comments and decisions to lay out some really tough sanctions against Sterling: the ban, the fine. Also the commitment that he was going to encourage owners or push him out, to sell the team
Ann Yu came to LA Live after NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced the fees and ban against Sterling – to mingle/talk about the decision.
“I think it was very strong. Adam Silver did a great job. I think that’s what everyone was looking for and hopefully that pans out and doesn’t back fire on them," said Yu.
Yu worries Sterling will hang on to the team as long as he can out of spitefulness because tough sanctions.
Many people made T-shirts condemning Sterling. One said "NBA – No Bigots Allowed." Sam Wright, a Clippers season ticket holder carried a sign that said, “Dear NBA owners, Clippers must have a new owner Vote For Sale.”
“Until that sale happens, until those owners vote on a 75 percent basis to force him to sell, then this wont’ be over. It’s beginning though, it’s a good beginning," said Wright, who almost didn’t come to the game last night, but decided to attend only after Silver made his decision.
Were there other ticket holders who said they were planning to attend no matter what happened to Sterling?
Yes, two college students who bought tickets before news about Sterling broke on Friday. Daniel Davis says he would’ve attended the game either way.
“But it wasn’t to support him. It was to support Doc and support, you know the team. I think Doc Rivers is a great man and I think what he stands for and what he’s about is what makes me want to come to the game," said Davis.
Davis wore a black T-shirt and shorts like a lot of others. As you know, after the NBA news conference yesterday, the Clippers website went black with the message: “We are one." NBA players over the weekend wore black socks and armbands in protest of Sterling.
One person we heard from today said “this is a good beginning.” He seemed to have wanted more? Did fans say they wanted Sterling out of the NBA team?
Many people thought Sterling should cut all ties to team and to the NBA.
What I heard yesterday afternoon was a collective sigh of relief from fans who didn't have to decide to boycott and give up their tickets, from minorities who were holding their breath and wondering if the NBA would support them. Just from public safety officials who I think were bracing for some serious demonstrations by people who were deeply angry and hurt if they hadn't heard what they were hoping for.
It will be interesting to see how NBA fans feel at the end of the week or next week, after everyone’s got a chance to catch their breath, digest what all happened and maybe hear about Sterling’s and other NBA owners’ next move.
We also wanted to know what you think about the decision:
Sports Roundup: Sterling fallout, LA Kings, Dr. Jack Ramsey dies and more
The Clippers take another step forward in the 2014 NBA playoffs, and a banana thrown onto a soccer pitch becomes a social movement. All this means it's time for sports with Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, who have covered sports for the L.A. Times and ESPN.
The NBA dropped the hammer on LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling yesterday: banned from the game for life and a $2.5 million fine. That's peanuts for him, but the largest fine possible under league rules. We heard earlier about what happens next, and of course the Clippers won last night.
The outcome could have been really different, depending on what NBA commissioner Adam Silver did -- but rumored protests turned into rallies, and I wonder if basketball became the story, finally?
Meantime, there was a well-publicized racial incident at a soccer match in Spain, involving a banana. What happened there?
L.A. Kings have made a miraculous run and forced a Game 7 after being down 0-3 in their series to the San Jose Sharks. Game 7 is Wednesday up north.
Hugely influential basketball coach Dr. Jack Ramsey passed away.
Heat owner Micky Arison says there's a 100 percent chance the big three of LeBron, Wade and Bosh stay in Miami. All three have the chance to become free agents this offseason.
A Paterno statue is in the works for State College (although not on PSU campus).
NCAA Board of Directors endorses a new governance model.
Babe Ruth's grandson is putting a watch from the Bambino up for auction, which is estimated to snag at least $750,000. Being a good sport, Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim put up a jacket he wore during an epic flipout/ejection. What's the one piece of sports paraphernalia we'd want if money was no object?
California prisons to start releasing nonviolent inmates
The state of California has until 2016 to bring down the number of inmates, thanks to a federal court order. Now some nonviolent prisoners are being set free.
LA Times reporter Paige St. John joins the show to talk about the latest news on this issue.
Pot farms could be worsening drought conditions in Northern California
For the first time in 15 years, the entire state of California is under some level of drought. According to the latest data from the National Climatic Data Center, more than 76 percent of the state is experiencing extreme drought.
Current conditions are exacerbating the situation in Northern California where the booming demand for marijuana is sucking watersheds dry.
For more on this we turn to Scott Bauer, an environmental scientist for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Thousands of California schoolchildren living close to pesticides
A new report shows tens of thousands of students in the state attend schools very close to farms where heavy amounts of pesticides are used. Pesticide reform groups have criticized the timing of the study, which was released late last week, after a pesticide safety bill failed in a state senate committee.
Sasha Khokha reports that farmworkers and pesticide reform groups say new research is long overdue.
Can a decrease in large wildlife increase human disease?
Researchers have found that large animals, wildlife, have a significant impact on human health. According to a new study, large mammals like elephants and giraffes help stop the spread of human diseases by limiting the number of rodents out there.
Hillary Young, assistant professor in UC Santa Barbara's Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, joins the show to talk about her study.
How the scent of a man can impact scientific research
Specifically, the scent of a man can impact the stress response in rodents used in science experiments. So, if there's a male researcher around the lab rats or mice, the animals have an elevated corticosterone response. In other words, they get stressed out.
Some scientists had hypothesized that researchers could impact the brain chemistry of mice, so McGill University decided to test the hypothesis. As it turns out, it's true.
Researchers discovered that mice that work with men initially have a higher pain tolerance, because of the stress hormone released. After about 30-40 minutes, the effects abated.
The effects were nonexistent with females, and when there was both male and female scent. Researchers aren't 100 percent sure why this happens, but according to Dr. Jeffrey Mogil, a neuroscientist from McGill who helped run the study, it has to do with the rodents' responses to another male mammals in the area. He says that they're anticipating having to possibly fight or flee.
What should scientists do going forward? Mogil thinks that they should include in a paper's method whether male or female researchers were involved in the project.
As to how many studies have been impacted or might have to change because of the findings? Mogil's unsure, but he's reviewed some of the studies that he's worked on and there's been an impact.
Santa Barbara teen helps researchers battle her rare eye disease
As the school year winds down, families with kids are figuring out what to do with their summer break. But one teenager in Santa Barbara already has her plans locked in, she'll spend her time trying to regain her vision. The California Report's Diane Bock says she'll be part of some cutting edge research.
The Foundation Fighting Blindness is sponsoring a Vision Walk fundraiser this weekend in Santa Barbara. High school freshman Lily Wash will have her team of supporters called “Looking out for Lily” walking by her side.
Lily loves Katy Perry and hanging out with her friends. In most ways, she’s a typical teenage girl except for one thing. Lily has a disease called retinitis pigmentosa, or RP.
“The photoreceptors in the back of my eye are dying, basically, from the outside in,” she explains. “I’m kind of nearsighted and farsighted. I also can’t see at night. I just have bad vision, kind of in general.”
Lily is active in school and in sports -- she plays both soccer and lacrosse -- but the disease does impact her life.
“I just recently took a vision field test, which is a test to see how much peripheral vision I have, and I’m borderline being able to drive or not,” Lily says. “I’m going to be 15 in less than a month, so hopefully it doesn’t get worse by the time I’m 16, so I can be able to drive.”
Lily was diagnosed with RP during a routine eye exam when she was eight years old. Her father, KC Wash, recalls the moment.
“Thinking back, it was kind of surreal, because we were in a crowded ophthalmologists office,” he says. “And the doctor said, ‘oh, I need to talk to you guys. I saw some stuff in Lily’s eyes, and unfortunately, I think it it’s something that needs to be checked.’”
Wash pauses.
“It was kind of like take the breath out of the room,” he says. “We hadn’t experienced anything like that before.”
Lily’s mom, Rhonda Wash, describes their initial reaction.
“You know, we obviously started looking into it, we did a lot of Internet searching, which you probably shouldn’t do,” she says. “And then, she’s going to be blind? I mean, to have a vision issue is one thing, but to know your daughter may possibly be blind someday is a whole other story.”
Lily sees her retinal specialist, Dr. Dante Pieramici, twice a year. Pieramici says retinitis pigmentosa, which is caused by a genetic mutation, is quite rare. It affects fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S., and right now there is no treatment or cure.
“The good news is there’s a lot of research being done,” Pieramici says. “These research things that have been sort of science fiction are going to be very possible, I think, in the next five or 10 years.”
The Center for Stem Cell Biology and Engineering at UC Santa Barbara is pioneering some of that research. Dr. Dennis Clegg is the center’s founder and co-director.
“We know how to make the cell types that are missing in these diseases,” Clegg says. “And we need to figure out how to deliver them, and how to make sure that they survive and function properly. We’re making really rapid progress in that direction.”
The cells that Clegg’s lab specializes in are called retinal pigmented epithelial cells.
“When you look into someone’s pupil and you see the black color, you’re actually looking at a monolayer of pigmented cells behind the retina, and they’re crucial for vision,” Clegg explains.
Clegg’s lab is part of the taxpayer-funded California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, or CIRM. It’s one of the core facilities in the state for stem cell research. Lily and her family recently toured the lab.
“It was really cool,” Lily says. “They do this thing where you can get this test where you can get all your genes mapped, and they can find out which genes are causing it. So they can find out which type find out which type of RP I have.”
So Lily’s next step is to have her blood drawn and sent to a lab at Harvard for gene mapping. Her DNA will be compared to the known DNA mutations that cause RP. If there’s a match, her parents say, it could bring Lily one step closer to treatment.
“And we have strong hope that there will be a cure that will affect her directly, so that’s the exciting part,” KC Wash says.
The Wash family looks forward to gathering with family and friends at this weekend’s Vision Walk, which they help co-chair.
“The fact that we’re raising money to cure it is one of our biggest purposes in life,” Rhonda Wash says.
Since 2006, Vision Walks across the country have raised over $28 million to fund research to help cure blindness.
Clinical trials to treat retinitis pigmentosa may begin in five years -- something Lily Wash looks forward to.
“I’d be 19, and I would definitely be up for that,” she says with a smile. “I’m really hopeful.”
The Bay Area Walk takes place on May 31 at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
Find more information about Vision Walk here.
What's behind the rise of the long and rambling book subtitle?
For authors, coming up with just the right book title can be tough. Throw a subtitle into the mix and the process becomes that much more difficult. Today, for nonfiction books, a subtitle is pretty much required.
But they're becoming increasingly long, and ridiculous these days. Case in point is writer Donovan Hohn's 2012 book, "Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists, and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of Them."
Hosts Alex Cohen and Tess Vigeland talk with author Ben Yagoda, who teaches English, journalism and writing at the University of Delaware. His most recent book is "How to Not Write Bad: The Most Common Writing Problems and the Best Ways to Avoid Them."
'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' star Bob Hoskins dies at 71
We end the hour with a celebration of the life of one of Hollywood's most esteemed actors. Actor Bob Hoskins passed away yesterday at the age of 71 from pneumonia.
He is perhaps best known for his role as the toon-hating detecting Eddie Valiant in the iconic LA film, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"
In addition to his comedy chops, the British actor was a dramatic force, too. He earned an Oscar nomination in the 1986 noir film "Mona Lisa," as the driver for a high-class prostitute named Simone.
Hoskins retired from acting in 2012 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's.
His one-time co-star Helen Mirren issued a statement remembering him this way:
"Bob was a great actor and an even greater man. Funny, loyal, instinctive, hard working, with that inimitable energy that seemed like a spectacular firework rocket just as it takes off."