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Podcasts Take Two
The Water Fix, Advocates for the homeless, NASA Opportunity
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Feb 13, 2019
Listen • 47:56
The Water Fix, Advocates for the homeless, NASA Opportunity

How the Metropolitan Water District is reacting to Governor Newsom's Water Fix plan, neighbors are stepping in to help their homeless neighbors, NASA makes one last attempt to reach Opportunity.
PASADENA, UNITED STATES: Activity Lead Dr. Rick Welch discusses the lastest images (BACKGROUND) returned from the martian surface by the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Opportunity 28 January 2004 at a press conference at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. JPL's second rover, Opportunity is returning images from its landing site at Meridiani Planum. AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)
PASADENA, UNITED STATES: Activity Lead Dr. Rick Welch discusses the lastest images (BACKGROUND) returned from the martian surface by the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Opportunity 28 January 2004 at a press conference at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. JPL's second rover, Opportunity is returning images from its landing site at Meridiani Planum. AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)
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ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images
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One day after Governor Newsom's State of the State speech calling for a downgrade of the state's Water Fix plan, we check in with the Metropolitan Water District. Plus, how regular people are stepping up to help their homeless neighbors. And, NASA makes one last attempt to reach Opportunity.

Governor Water Deals

( Starts at 0:55 ) 

In his first State of the State address, California Governor Gavin Newsom made a lot of proclamations that took a few of us by surprise. The Water Fix was Governor Jerry Brown's big infrastructure idea — twin tunnels that would more efficiently deliver water from the Northern part of the state to Southern California. Newsom does NOT want to scrap the project entirely, but he would like to scale it down to one tunnel.  Plus, we get reactions from the head of the Metropolitan Water District.

Guest:

  • Dale Kasler, Sacramento Bee who writes a lot about water issues in the state
  • Jeffrey Kightlinger, Metropolitan Water District

BuzzFeed moves to unionize

( Starts at 36:00 ) 

Reporters in the Buzzfeed newsroom voted to unionize Tuesday. The vote comes after the popular web site laid off 15 percent of its workforce last month. We find out more about the Buzzfeed unionization effort.

Guest:

  • David Folkenflik, NPR media correspondent, and host of NPR's On Point

Homeless Advocates

( Starts at 13:05 ) 

Some Californians are taking it upon themselves to address the needs of their homeless neighbors. They are transitioning from handing out food and tents to becoming homeless advocates and service providers.

Guest:

  • Matt Tinoco, KPCC housing reporter

L.A. Department of Children and Family Services

( Starts at 17:24 ) 

Bobby Cagle is the director of the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services. It's been just over a year since he stepped into that role and he walked into a department that soon came under fire for high-profile death of a child, Anthony Avalos, whose abuse had been reported to DCFS. The case, he told us late last year, had given him "points of focus to deeply evaluate the system." Earlier this week Cagle joined us again to talk about some the changes he's tried implement. 

Guest:

  • Bobby Cagle, L.A. Department of Children and Family Services

On the Lot

( Starts at 27:30 ) 

The Academy of Motion Pictures faces backlash after announcing it won't present certain categories during the Oscars telecast. Plus, the release of Captain Marvel is just around the corner...it's Marvel's first film with a female lead.  So, what took the studio so long?

Guest:

  • Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LHxvxdRnYc

NASA Opportunity

( Starts at 41:05 ) 

After 15 years of bravely exploring the surface of Mars, time might be up for rover Opportunity. NASA is sending one final signal to ask, 'Hey, are you there? Are you OK?' And if NASA doesn't get a response, the mission could be over.