How will the political developments impact California? The decision to end solitary confinement in juvenile facilities, will the Burbank airport rebranding help?
Cruz and Kasich concessions could hurt California Republicans in June
Republican Donald Trump dominated the Indiana primaries Tuesday, sweeping up over 53 percent of the vote. Before the final numbers were in, challenger Ted Cruz was out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njlp4AaTwWQ
Trump, meanwhile, struck a slightly more conciliatory tone in his victory speech:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oO4YqOGClY
The Cruz concession makes two things clear: Donald Trump is now the presumptive Republican nominee, and California, which holds its primary on June 7th, won’t have a say in the matter.
UPDATE: John Kasich has dropped out, making Donald Trump the sole GOP candidate.
For more on what's ahead for California, Take Two spoke to two guests:
- Bill Whalen, research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institute
- Thad Kousser, professor of political science at UC San Diego
Press the blue play button above to hear the interview.
(Post has been updated.)
Sports roundup: Lakers new coach Luke Walton, Dodgers get much-needed hits, Rams score new QB
Can the Lakers turn the corner on a string of awful seasons? Will the Rams make a big splash with new quarterback Jared Goff? And is the Dodgers' sluggish offense cause for worry?
We're joined by
.
A Marine's Iraq experience as told in comic form
In his new graphic novel "Terminal Lance: The White Donkey," former Marine Maximilian Uriarte, provides a fictionalized account of his time in Iraq, as told through the eyes of his main character, Abe.
The book is a continuation of his popular Terminal Lance series that's been running for the past six years online.
"The first [thought] in my head was I made a horrible mistake," said Uriarte, who was referencing his first reaction to bootcamp,in a conversation with A Martinez. "I think that a lot of Marine's go through that, but most Marines don't talk about that afterward."
Throughout his book, Uriarte draws heavily on his own four year experience with the Marines in Iraq in an honest way that's managed to connect with other veterans on a visceral level.
Look it up on Amazon and it has nearly five-hundred five-star reviews. In one review, a reader said it was, "Truly cathartic for... veterans, for myself, and hopefully equally as insightful for our civilian friends and family."
Cathartic, because Uriarte not only explores the realities of war, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but also the mundanities of every day life stationed overseas.
A Martinez recently had a chance to speak with Uriarte about his time in Iraq, as well as about his new book.
To hear the entire interview click on the audio embedded at the top of this post.
What's next for California's proposed pot ballot measure?
Come November, voters in California will likely get the chance to decide on whether to make marijuana legal for recreational use.
Supporters of the Adult Use of Marijuana Act say they have collected 600,000 signatures in support of putting the measure on the ballot, well ahead of the 365,880 required by the July 5 deadline. The validity of the signatures must be verified by the California secretary of state's office and county officials throughout the state in order for the initiative to be placed on the ballot.
The measure would permit adults to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and grow up to six plants.
"It will be a game-changer, not just in California, but will send a message, not just in the United States, but around the world," said Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, a supporter of the measure. "We're moving in a new, sensible and mature direction."
But there's also vocal opposition to the proposal. A group including the California Police Chiefs Association, California Hospital Association, California Teamsters and California State Sheriffs' Association has vowed to oppose the measure through November.
They're questioning whether state regulators will be able to effectively control the production and sale of marijuana.
"They've proven that they cannot regulate this criminal activity, this is a lawless industry," said Scott Chipman, Southern California Chair for Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana.
Click on the player above to hear the full interviews
The impact of LA's end to juvenile solitary confinement
LA County is doing away with solitary confinement in juvenile halls and camps. The decision came Tuesday from the LA County Board of Supervisors.
LA has the largest juvenile facility system in the country. What impact could this move have on the rest of California?
Jyoti Nanda is a lecturer of law and director of the Youth and Justice Clinic at UCLA. She joins the show with more.
Click on the blue player above to hear the full interview
Policing expert says failure to enforce policy is a failure of leadership
In an effort to reduce officer-involved shootings, some local law enforcement agencies have changed their policies on when officers can shoot people.
Back in 2005, both the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department put policies in place to prohibit officers from shooting at unarmed suspects in moving vehicles.
But a KPCC investigation has found that while LAPD officers are following the policy, L.A. County Sheriff’s deputies continue to shoot into moving cars.
Geoffrey Alpert, a policing expert at the University of South Carolina, says the fact that deputies are not complying with the policy points to a larger problem.
"It's a horrible example of leadership and management to have a policy that no one pays attention to," Alpert says. "If you have a message and you wink at it, what message does that send the officers? It [tells] the officers no one really cares about it this. Well, if they don't care about this, maybe they don't care about other policies."
Read KPCC reporter Annie Gilbertson's investigation here.
To hear the full interview, click on the player above
The Styled Side: make perfume for Mother's Day
This Sunday is Mother's Day. You didn't forget, did you?
But if brunch is boring and you're fed up with flowers, there's a new way Angelinos can say, "I love you mom" – DIY perfume.
"We're talking custom scents, perfume classes and unique small brands that feel anything but generic," says Michelle Dalton Tyree of Fashion Trends Daily. "Personally crafting perfume is not necessarily new, but the DIY movement has hit the world of perfume in a big way recently."
There's definitely room for the scent market to grow, too.
North America is largest fragrance market with one third of global fragrance sales, currently valued at over $40 billion (and the top perfume: Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds)
But Tyree recently tried developed her own scent with perfumer Sarah Horowitz in Westlake Village.
You can make an appointment to work with her and create your own custom perfume. She also has a classes in May where you learn to make your own.
Many more businesses in Southern California offer similar services, too.
- At KleanSpa in Burbank, you can make your own custom scent, host a scent blending party and more.
- The family operated Parfums Raffy in Sherman Oaks has one of the most extensive perfume collections, but you can also do custom blends
- You can call ahead to Scent Bar on Beverly Blvd to give them idea of the types of scents mom loves and a scent-flight, so to speak.
"What's really good about this trend," says Tyree, "is I'm incredibly picky about scent and I think it's very personal to people, so this is a perfect way to do something special. And if, for some reason, your mome ends up not liking the scent it's not your fault."
Bob Hope Airport gets rebranded ... again
Burbank's airport has been rebranded. Again.
Officials voted eight-to-one to change the name to Hollywood Burbank airport. This is the airport's seventh name change since it's inception in 1930, and the second time it's been the Hollywood Burbank airport. It previously held that name from 1967-1978.
Since 2003, it's been known as Bob Hope Airport, but apparently no one knew where that was. But fear not fans of the dearly-departed comedian, this is not a legal name change.
For more on the airport's new image direction we were joined by Michael Fiore, co-founder of Anyone Collective, the branding firm contracted by the airport.
Interview Highlights:
Why did the airport need to be rebranded?
"Airlines were big components of changing the name and having a geographical identifier. The first thing they would say to us was, "You need to have a city name or a geographical identifier to that airport so people know where it is." That was the first thing that we talked about when we talked to them."
Why Hollywood Burbank?
"L.A. and Los Angeles ... that name came up a lot, but Hollywood seemed to be a better fit. The commission thought it was a better fit because it felt a little closer to Burbank. They felt that people knew where Hollywood was, people east of the Rockies. Again, the goal was, east of the Rockies we have to tell them where this airport is because people don't know where this airport is. ... In the rebrand phase and as we move forward we're going to tell them how close we are to Downtown, how close this airport is to all of the things they want to go to..."
Why keep the Bob Hope name?
"It's very difficult to change the legal name of an airport, so the airport's decision to change the branding name will allow us, or an agency like us, to start marketing the airport in a different light—give it a little bit of a fresh new identity so that people can be aware of it. Because they haven't spent a lot of time on marketing and branding this airport and creating awareness."
To hear the full interview, click the blue play button above.