How and when to quit the presidential race, the world of sports through behavioral economics and psychology, Porter Ranch residents ask can the gas give them cancer?
The art of dropping out: Presidential candidates call it quits in 2016
The race is narrowing. Today, Republican Rand Paul said he's bowing out of the 2016 presidential contest. He follows fellow Republican Mike Huckabee and Democrat Martin O'Malley. They both called it quits – or 'suspended their campaigns' as politicians put it – shortly after the results of the Iowa caucases came in Monday night.
This brings up a big question: if you're dropping out, how and when should you do it?
If history is any guide, making smart choices when throwing in the towel can mean a lot to a candidate's future.
For more we turn to Matt Latimer, contributing editor at Politico. He's also a former speech writer for George W. Bush.
Politico's How to Drop Out of the Presidential Race
Porter Ranch leak: DA Jackie Lacey says her criminal suit against SoCal Gas could yield faster results
It has been a rough week for SoCal Gas — and it’s only Wednesday. On Tuesday, the office of California Attorney General Kamala Harris joined a civil suit against SoCal Gas, while Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey filed a criminal suit against the utility company over the ongoing gas leak in Aliso Canyon.
While the attorney general's case may take longer to yield results, Take Two talked to District Attorney Jackie Lacey about her office’s criminal suit — which she said would reap results faster.
“This allows us to get into court fairly quickly, get some sanctions in place, put the corporation on probation and assist perhaps in getting some of the remedies that those who are suing civilly are seeking,” Lacey said.
Natural gas has spewed into the air since late October 2015, creating environmental and health concerns for nearby communities like Porter Ranch.
The District Attorney’s Office filed four charges against SoCal Gas. Lacey said the first three have to do with the company failing to immediately report the leak was happening. The fourth charge is for the continued gas leak.
"We believe that we can prove that this gas is interfering with the health and enjoyment of residents who are there,” Lacey said.
Lacey said that her office believes they can prove that the leak occurred three days before SoCal Gas reported it — a mistake which could bring up to $25,000 per day in fines.
Criminal cases pertaining to the environment are not cases the District Attorney’s Office normally works on. Lacey said her office sees mostly run-of-the-mill street crime or violent crime cases, so they took extra care to gather the facts that would build the case against SoCal Gas.
"We wanted to make absolutely sure before we filed the charges that we’d be able to prove them beyond a reasonable doubt,” Lacey said. "Now that we’re confident that we have that type of evidence and we’ve researched the law ... we decided that we had exclusive jurisdiction on these charges and that it was time to file them.”
Lacey also mentioned that she thinks cases brought against SoCal Gas pertaining to the Aliso Canyon gas leak will take place for many years to come.
This story has been updated.
All you need to know for this weekend's Super Bowl 50: Broncos vs. Panthers
It's finally here: the Denver Broncos face off against the Carolina Panthers for this Sunday's 50th Superbowl game in northern California and storylines abound.
To help us break it all down, we're joined by
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The psychology and behavioral economics behind sports
It is really hard to lead a team to a Super Bowl win.
Only 31 people in the world can say they are a Super Bowl winning quarterback. It takes a strong arm, smarts, leadership skills and....supermodel looks?
Consider some these Super Bowl winning quarterbacks and picture their square jaws: Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Joe Namath, etc.
All very handsome, all very successful.
But is it just coincidence that a lot quarterbacks are really good looking OR is there something buried in our heads that makes us desire for the leaders of our football teams to look like dashing leading men?
L. Jon Wertheim co-wrote a book with Sam Sommers tackling this and more, it's called This is your Brain on Sports. In the book they explore the science of underdogs, the value of rivalry and what we can learn from the t-shirt cannon.
To hear the full interview, click the blue play button above.
Should women have to register for the draft? Some top military chiefs think so.
Even though it's been 40 years since anyone has been drafted into the military in the US, young men are still required to register with the Selective Service when they enter adulthood.
Now, top officers from the Army and Marine Corp say it's about time women register, too.
The recommendation came during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday.
Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, said now that all combat positions are open to women, the policy change makes sense.
For more on what the recommendation could mean, Take Two spoke to KPCC veterans and military issues reporter, John Ismay.
Press the blue play button above to hear the interview.
Will Bill Cosby's decade old deal with a District attorney save him?
The embattled actor and comedian Bill Cosby is currently in a Pennsylvania court to see if he will face criminal charges stemming from Andrea Constand's 2004 civil suit. Constand initially tried to pursue of criminal charges, but when that failed she filed a civil suit against Cosby instead.
Cosby was deposed in the civil suit, under the condition that that he would not be criminally prosecuted. Today, a judge will decide whether this deal, made by former District attorney Bruce Castor, more than a decade ago is legally binding. The agreement was never put in writing.
Laurie Levenson, professor at Loyola Law School, joins the show for more.
The Styled Side: the rise of fancy boutique sweets
It's almost Valentine's Day and, love it or loathe it, it's big business for candy.
Americans spend roughly about $1.7 billion on candy every Valentine's Day, and retailers in Southern California are upping their game with artisanal and fashionable products.
"L.A.'s chocolatiers and candy makers are elevating the art and making sweets stylish and, most importantly these days, Instagram-worthy," says Michelle Dalton Tyree of Fashion Trends Daily.
The now-infamous Brooklyn chocolatier Mast Brothers first popularized the trend with $10 "boutique" bars wrapped in stylish patterns.
However, Los Angeles chocolatiers have caught on with that design philosophy, too
"Compartes Chocolatier, which bills itself as the nation's hippest and most trendsetting chocolate shop," says Tyree, "and stylish it is!"
Started in 1950, the brand was reinvigorated by a young chocolatier named Jonathan Grahm. He uses ingredients from local farmers markets and chocolates sourced from South America.
Grahm also fuses fashion, art and style into the artisanal chocolates with stylish packaging and beautiful designs on the chocolates themselves.
The California Love bar, for example, has very L.A.-centric graphics. Compartes also collaborates with the likes of interior designer Kelly Wearstler for some of its designs.
It's paid off in social media with more than 74,000 Instagram followers.
Another fashionable candy retailer on Tyree's radar is Sugarfina, based in Beverly Hills.
"I like to think of it as the Tiffany & Co. of candy," she says. "It has signature and stylish robin's egg blue boxes."
Like Compartes, Sugarfina has partnered with fashion brands such as Alice & Olivia. It has over 58,000 Instagram followers, itself.
For local designers and retailers, pairing with these candy makers – or even selling them at sale counters along side skirts and sweaters – can help solidify your hip and fashionable creditials.
"It's really about pushing the lifestyle behind the brand, and that's what sells," says Tyree.