Today on the show, we'll start with a discussion of how homeowners can adjust to the increasing risk of wildfires. Then, a mysterious fish kill in Marina Del Rey worries climate scientists. Plus, how New York became a hub for the heroin trade, photographer Brenda Biondo captures images of playgrounds past, medical researchers enlist Psilocybin to help fight addiction, and much more.
How can we adjust to the increasing risk of wildfires?
While the fires that broke out last week San Diego County are now almost fully contained, California is bracing for what could be the worst fire season ever.
This week, Governor Jerry Brown drew a direct link between climate change, the drought and wildfires. Appearing on ABC's "This Week," Governor Brown warned that Californians have to prepare for the worst:
"We've got to deal with it. We've already appropriated $600 million. We have 5,000 firefighters. We're going to need thousands more. And in the years to come, we're going to have to make very expensive investments and adjust. And the people are going to have to be careful of how they live, how they build their homes and what kind of vegetation is allowed to grow around them."
Economist Ray Rasker, Executive Director of Headwaters Economics, joins Take Two to talk about what people can do to adjust to the increasing risk of wildfires.
Fish kill in Marina Del Rey raises concerns about changing ocean temps
As workers continue to clean up a massive fish kill in Marina Del Rey, some marine biologists have pointed to hot temperatures and a changing ocean environment as a potential cause.
Tom Ford, director of Marine Programs for the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Foundation, tells Take Two that more study needs to be done before determining what's behind the Marina Del Rey incident, but with rising ocean temperatures, comes a decrease in oxygen — which could have broad implications for marine life.
Former lifers discuss hopes, fears after winning parole
For decades, California inmates serving long sentences such as 25-years-to-life had very little chance of being released. Parole was routinely denied by the Board of Parole Hearings or blocked by the governor.
But in the past few years, there's been a dramatic change. Since a key Supreme Court ruling in 2008, the number of so-called "lifers" winning parole has steadily climbed. Since then, more than 1,700 lifers have been released
VIDEO: After 17 years in prison, a second chance
The California Report's Scott Shafer has the story.
'Overwhelmed': Why more of us are feeling stressed and overworked
Do you feel like you are always busy and never have time to get everything done? So does reporter Brigid Schulte, who decided to do some research and find out why we all feel so overwhelmed.
Her book, "Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time" takes a look at sthe issues we have with work and free leisure time. Schulte joins the show with more. To hear the interview, click on "Listen Now" in the upper left.
This Friday, stop by the KPCC studios for a conversation with Schulte in our Crawford Family Forum, moderated by business reporter Brian Watt. RSVP here.
We also hosted a Twitter chat with @BrigidSchulte. Here are some highlights.
Medical researchers enlist Psilocybin to help fight addiction
This is Part Two of our Psychedelic Science series. Click here for Part One, here for Part Three, and here for Part Four.
It may seem counterintuitive to treat addiction with a drug that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classifies as one that carries a high risk of addiction.
But psilocybin — the naturally-occurring drug found in "magic mushrooms" — is showing promise in the treatment of alcoholism and other addictions, say researchers, who have conducted scientific studies with the hallucinogen.
KPCC's Stephanie O'Neill reports.
Tuesday Reviewsday: Michael Jackson, DJ Vadim, Nas and more
It's Tuesday, which means that it's time for Tuesday Reviewsday, our weekly new music segment. Here to do just that is Oliver Wang from Soul-Sides.com and music supervisor Morgan Rhodes.
Oliver's Picks
Artist: Michael Jackson
Album: Xscape
Songs: "Love Never Felt So Good (w/ Justin Timberlake)"
Artist: Nas
Album: Illmatic XX
Songs: "Memory Lane" and "I'm a Villain"
It's the 20th anniversary of one of the most important hip-hop albums ever. There's been a slew of revisiting of the legacy of "Illmatic" and Sony's released a new double-CD set that has the original album, plus a a bonus disc, of some unreleased stuff and mostly 12"-only remixes.
Artist: DJ Rashad
Album: Double Cup
Songs: "Feelin'" and "Only One"
DJ Rashad was a major figure in Chicago's footwork scene - a local dance/music culture/community feels like the love child of house and downtempo hip-hop. He died a couple weeks ago of a blood clot. He was 34.
Morgan's Picks
Artist: DJ Vadim
Album: Dubcatcher
Song: "Hope ft. Rio Hemopo and Sabira Jade"
Release Date: May 2nd
DJ Vadim's albums are well known for blending of styles and sounds. His latest, Dubcatcher is an amalgamation of reggae, dub and hip hop.
Artist: Taylor McFerrin
Album: Riser EP
Songs: "Decisions ft. Emily King", "The Antidote"
Release Date: June 3rd
Five years after his debut and newly signed to LA's own prolific Brainfeeder label, Taylor is back with a full length album that showcases his skills as a producer. Power collaborations abound, including one with jazz great Robert Glasper.
Artist: James Tillman
Album: Shangri La
Song: "Love Within", "Shangri La"
Fortunately for us, James Tillman ditched his earlier plans to become an account. He decided to specialize in vocal jazz at the New School in New York, a school well known for it's famous alumni. His debut project is smoky and soulful.
How New York became a hub for the heroin trade
In New York City, import and export of heroin has surged to the highest levels seen in two decades. During the first four months of the year, authorities have seized more than 288 pounds of heroin — and that doesn't count the smaller deals taking place on the streets every day.
Sam Quinones of the LA Times joins the show with more. He's currently working on a book about the heroin trade.
California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom allows donation via bitcoin
Looking to support current Democratic Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom as he runs for re-election this fall? Well now, if you like, you can give to his campaign in bitcoin.
Newsom is one of a handful of politicians accepting the virtual currency. Earlier this month the Federal Election Committee voted unanimously to allow bitcoin for political donations.
For more on what this means for the future of politics, we're joined by Matea Gold, who covers money and politics for the Washington Post.
Why public corruption is common in southeast LA County
Residents of Southeast LA County will vote on June 3rd to replace State Senator Ron Calderon. He's been indicted on federal corruption charges. But KPCC's Alice Walton says it's the latest in a string of public corruption cases in the Southland and investigated why that's happening.
Drones help Central Valley farmers save water
Many farmers in the Central Valley are facing drastic reductions from their usual supplies of state and federal water. Sasha Khokha explains farmers are looking to the sky — not just for rain — but for the newest water-saving tool: aerial drones.
Dinosaur remains found in Argentina could be biggest ever
Dinosaur remains thought to belong to the largest specimens ever found were unveiled by paleontologists in Argentina.
The dinosaurs were found by a farmworker in the Patagonia region of Argentina and are part of a group of dinosaurs known as Titanosaurus, an herbivorous sauropod with a long neck and tail. Scientists based their guess on the dinosaur's size by extrapolating from the enormous femur bone.
RELATED: The biggest dinosaur ever discovered in Argentina. How big is it?
However, full skeletal remains have not been uncovered yet and there have been many cases of dinosaurs' sizes being overestimated upon initial discovery, said Brian Switek, who writes about dinosaurs for National Geographic.
The big business of live streaming video gameplay
When you think of sports, you might think of baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and video games?
Believe it or not, watching people play video games online is a huge business. The biggest company behind live streaming video game matches is Twitch Interactive. Word is they might be bought up by Google for a cool $1 billion.
Dan Hsu, editor in chief at GamesBeat.com, joins the show to talk about the big business of streaming video gameplay.
Photographer Brenda Biondo captures images of playgrounds past
There was a time that playgrounds were a lot more jagged, metallic, and dangerous-looking, and yet they were statistically just as safe as today's equipment and perhaps more fun.
Photographer Brenda Biondo captured historic pieces of playground equipment scattered throughout parks around the country.
Her new book, "Once Upon a Playground: A celebration of classic American playgrounds, 1920 - 1975," showcases the history of the American playground from its roots in the cities to teach immigrant children to be "good citizens," to today's slides and merry-go-rounds that have been re-imagined to be more safe and secure.
Interview Highlights:
What were the earliest playgrounds like?
"The earliest playgrounds that had equipment on them started in the early 1900s during the reform era. People were really interested in getting city kids off of the dangerous streets and they started hearing about some of these playgrounds that were being built in Europe and decided to try some of them in the US, mainly in the large cities with large immigrant populations, where kids could come and spend time and run around and stay out of trouble, but also learn to be good citizens, learn cooperation and teamwork and learn American customs. By the 1920s playgrounds began popping up in smaller towns and communities around the country."
What themes did you notice during your research into playgrounds?
"The equipment reflected, to some extent, the era in which it was installed. In the 60s and 70s when space exploration was very popular and people were very excited about that, in the playgrounds you started seeing these big metal rocketships and these climbers in the shape of satellites and lunar landers and radar screens and all sorts of spaceage stuff."
What did you learn about the designs of this playground equipment?
"I learned that from the '20s, '30s and '40s, when they were more or less pretty straightforward wooden and metal structures, in the 50s they started to take on these different shapes because they wanted to engage the children a little bit more. It was after the second world war, there was a more upbeat feeling in the country, so they wanted to have something new and different on the playground, so they started looking around at popular culture to pull references into the design."
What was the fundamental change that happened in the 1970s with playground design?
"In 1972, the Consumer Product Safety Commission was formed. One of the things they started looking at were the reports and the data on accidents from playgrounds. They decided that playgrounds needed some standards. People who were responsible for parks and school playgrounds decided that, well, we better make sure our equipment meets the newest standards.
"I think in many cases the early '70s were the beginning of the end for these old playgrounds, because instead of repairing them in most cases when they were getting worn and old, people decided they should be replaced. Also, not only for safety reasons, but I think there's a perception among parents and parks officials that, gee kids today should have a piece of equipment thats newer than 40 years old."