LA Mayoral candidates Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti faced off in a debate last night, only to find common ground on issues from immigration to education. Then, why has philosophy always played a key role for the man once known as Governor Moonbeam? We'll hear from the author of a new biography of Jerry Brown. Tech entrepreneurs in Southern California want to challenge Silicon Valley's place as the nation's technology startup capitol. One way they hope to get there is to incubate talent. But KPCC's Adolfo Guzman-Lopez finds out many youth are left behind because they're growing up in technology deserts.
Looking back at last night's LA Mayoral debate
Only two weeks are left until voters, or at least some of them, go to the polls to elect L.A.'s next mayor. Candidates Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti ended a busy weekend of campaigning with a debate last night at USC. And while the two did manage to find common ground on some issues, each of them also outlined why they'd be the best choice to be the city's next mayor. A few weeks ago, polls showed Garcetti with a pretty strong lead. Greuel says her internal polls show a much tighter race.
Greuel's campaign - and in some cases independent groups supporting her - have been running some pretty tough ads against Garcetti. And he's firing back, saying she's beholden to labor unions and won't be independent.
With more is James Rainey, political columnist for the L.A. Times.
A Martinez had an extended chat with Wendy Greuel that we'll air tomorrow, and Alex Cohen's interview with Eric Garcetti will air on Wednesday's program.
The city pension problem facing the next mayor
One of the biggest challenges facing the next mayor of Los Angeles is the ballooning price of retirement benefits for city employees. Those expenses take from street repairs, paramedics and other services. Mayoral candidates Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel promise to reduce pension costs, but offer few specifics. KPCC's Frank Stoltze examines the pension problem facing the next leader of LA.
Vote for gun background checks cause political backlash in Arizona
Congress is back in session today after a week-long recess. For Republican Senator Jeff Flake the return to Washington may come as a relief. Some of his constituents in Arizona are still livid over his recent vote against expanded background checks for gun sales. They say the freshman senator is ignoring their calls for a public meeting. Peter O'Dowd from the Fronteras Desk reports.
LA youth struggle with tech deserts
Tech entrepreneurs in Southern California want to challenge Silicon Valley's place as the nation's technology startup capitol. One way they hope to get there is to incubate talent. High school and college students are swarming to meet-ups and workshops to learn skills to make them competitive. But KPCC's Adolfo Guzman-Lopez met advocates who say a large portion of youth are being left behind because they're growing up in neighborhoods that remain technology deserts.
Wrapping up Hollywood: Iron Man 3's big premiere
Iron Man 3 had a great opening weekend to kick off the summer movie season. The $175 million premiere could make Hollywood executives feel better about the other big bets they've made on summer blockbusters. Movie makers worry gun laws will get in their way, and after half a dozen film adaptations, director Baz Lurhman offers his take on Jay Gatsby.
Rebecca Keegan, entertainment reporter for the LA Times, joins the show to discuss the latest from Hollywood.
'Trailblazer' takes an in-depth look at Jerry's Brown's political legacy
Governor Jerry Brown has had perhaps one of the most colorful political careers of all time. Son of California political royalty, he served as California's governor in 1974 and 1978, ran for President in 1976 and in 1980 famously challenged President Jimmy Carter, who belonged to the same party, for the nomination.
Those events, and much more, are chronicled in the new Brown biography, "Trailblazer." We speak with author Chuck McFadden.
CA Congressman Duncan Hunter challenges Army's intel-gathering system
A battle is brewing over a military computer system called Distributed Common Ground System, or DCGS.
The Army insists it can help commanders piece together intelligence gathered from various sources and provide real-world help, but Marine-turned-Congressman Duncan Hunter (Rep-Calif.) disagrees.
For more on this we're joined by reporter Austin Wright of Politico.
CA politicians start lobbying for state budget surplus
Next week, Governor Jerry Brown is set to release a revised budget proposal for the state.
Currently California is on track to have a potential windfall of billions of dollars by the end of the fiscal year.
Democrats want to use that extra money to fund state programs that have had their budgets cut in recent years. However, the Brown administration isn't making any promises.
Here to talk about the issue is John Myers. He's the political editor at ABC News 10 in Sacramento.
A new (mobile) home for retirement villages
There's a healthy, inexpensive, environmentally friendly solution for housing millions of retiring baby boomers. And in most places, it's already there. It's called a trailer park.
Lisa Margonelli, contributing editor of Pacific Standard, joins the show to explain retirement life in a double-wide.
Farmworkers search for affordable housing
There was a ribbon cutting in the Coachella Valley east of Palm Springs, for a new housing complex to replace a dilapidated mobile home park. That 80-unit development is welcome news, but much more is needed.
The region is rich in agricultural bounty, but the farmworkers there -- many of them immigrants -- often live in sub-standard mobile home parks. Reporter Lisa Morehouse visited a few of them to learn about the challenges of affordable housing in the region, and what the future may hold.
Riverside could ban medical marijuana after CA court ruling
The California Supreme Court issued a decision allowing local governments to ban medical marijuana dispensaries. Cities like Riverside could soon move to ban the shops in their borders.
Medical marijuana in California has long been a contentious issue. There are three different measures on the May 21 ballot about medical marijuana, and it still remains illegal under federal law.
For more on the ruling and what's behind it, KPCC's Frank Stoltze joins the show.
Tom's River: An all too-familiar story of industrial pollution with a twist
Corporation X pollutes Town Y.
Townspeople get sick.
But the story of Tom's River, NJ is a little different. The people living along the river, did some sleuthing and connected the dots between the polluter and the illnesses.
Environmental journalist Dan Fagin has written about this in a new book. It's called Tom's River: A Story of Science and Salvation.