Today on the show, we'll have an update on the alleged kidnapping in Orange County in which a woman claims to have been held captive for 10 years. Then, Metro will decide today whether to raise fees. Plus, undocumented millennials show stronger ties after DACA, In 'The Love Punch,' actor Pierce Brosnan gives the comedic caper a try, the first Native American woman to be a federal judge takes oath, and much more.
California woman found 10 years after alleged kidnapping
A woman who was reported missing 10 years ago was found in Orange County yesterday.
RELATED: Santa Ana kidnapping: California woman found 10 years after kidnapping
Her name has not been released, but she claims she was held against her will and forced to marry Isidro Garcia. She alleges the now 41-year-old man was her mother's boyfriend who had kidnapped her when she was just 15.
Police haven't charged Garcia yet, but he's been booked on suspicion of kidnapping for rape and false imprisonment, among other charges. We're joined now by KPCC's Adolfo Guzman Lopez, who's been reporting on the case for KPCC.
Legislator takes action against sexual harassment of farmworkers
It's an open secret in California's agricultural fields and packing houses: female farmworkers often endure sexual harassment, or even sexual assault.
The perpetrators often are crew bosses who threaten to the fire the women if they speak up. Now the legislature is considering ways to crack down on employers.
From the California Report, Sasha Khokha has this story.
Updated: LA Metro board votes to raise bus and rail fees
Update 2:20 p.m.:
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board voted today to increase bus and rail fares by 25 cents beginning in September, but agreed to temporarily hold off on additional increases that had been proposed for 2017 and 2020.
The base fare for Metro buses and trains will increase from $1.50 to$1.75 in September under the 12-1 vote, but passengers will be given two hours of free transfers. Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina was the lone dissenter.
The vote came after an hours-long public hearing that included comments from more than 100 people, mostly in opposition to the fare increase. The proposal originally called for fares to increase to $2 in 2017 and $2.25 in 2020, but the board agreed to delay a decision on those hikes pending
further review.
Day pass fares will rise from $5 to $7 in September, and weekly and monthly pass costs will also rise.
Metro officials said the fare hikes are needed to erase a projected $36.8 million budget shortfall projected for 2016. The agency predicted the deficit could rise to $225 million over the next decade.
Earlier today:
L.A. county officials are meeting today to vote on a possible fare hike for bus and train riders.
The 13-member LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority board is considering two options -- both would lead to higher fares for most riders.
For a look at what's at stake, we're joined by Laura Nelson reporter with the LA Times.
(This story has been updated)
US and Mexico set 100,000 student goal for study exchanges
Secretary of State John Kerry and UC President Janet Napolitano are in Mexico this week to promote educational exchange between the U.S. and Latin America.
Mexico used to be the top destination for U.S. students heading to Latin America, but because of concerns about crime and drug violence there, students are now opting for other countries instead.
Only about 14,000 Mexican students are currently studying abroad in the U.S., but the Mexican government is looking to boost that number to 100,000. The United States also has a goal of sending 100,000 students to Latin America by 2020.
For more on this, we turn to Marion Lloyd, a higher education researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the former Latin America correspondent for The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Undocumented millennials show stronger ties after DACA
Undocumented youth have been a force to reckon with in the ongoing immigration debate.
And there are some interesting tidbits about this group, as revealed in a new study out that was commissioned by Unbound Philanthropy and United We Dream, an advocacy organization.
Tom Wong is a political science professor at UC San Diego who conducted the survey. Wong says that although there is a perception that undocumented immigrants tend to overwhelmingly support Democrats, the survey found that nearly half, or 45 percent surveyed, describe themselves as "independent" or "other."
Other key findings:
- More than 60 percent say they feel more like they belong to the US after DACA, but more than 70 percent also feel that DACA is "not enough."
- Close to 70 percent got a first job or moved to a better job after DACA.
- Twenty percent bought their first car after DACA.
The full survey: In Their Own Words: Undocumented Millennials After DACA.
First Native American woman to be a federal judge takes oath
For the first time in the history of this country, a Native American woman has taken the oath to become a federal judge. She will be the only American Indian to serve on the federal bench out of almost 900 judges.
From the Fronteras Desk in Flagstaff, Laurel Morales reports.
Using hallucinogens to treat anxiety from a serious illness diagnosis
This is Part Four of our Psychedelic Science series. Click here for Part One, here for Part Two, and here for Part Three.
Psilocybin is the active ingredient that puts the magic in "magic mushrooms." And new research suggests it has tremendous potential as a treatment for severe anxiety caused by a serious illness or terminal diagnosis, according to researchers in the field.
But look up psilocybin on the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) website, and you’ll find this natural hallucinogen classified as a "Schedule One" drug. In government speak that means one that's dangerous and "without any accepted medical value."
But patients who have taken psilocybin as part of anxiety studies tell a different story.
KPCC's Stephanie O'Neill reports.
The Iceman Cometh: Can you train your body to withstand extreme cold?
Wim Hof is a Dutch extremeophile who claims he can consciously train his body to withstand cold that would kill other men.
He has hiked two-thirds up Everest in only shorts, run marathons barefoot in the Arctic Circle and submerged himself below ice for 72 minutes. Scientific study of Hof has borne out his claims. It is thought he has built up so-called "brown fat," a type of fat that can be burnt easily by the body to generate heat.
All humans have brown fat when they are babies, which allows them to live without getting hypothermia, but most people lose their brown fat cells unless they are exposed to extreme cold temperatures.
Hof is the subject of a profile by Scott Carney, in this month's Playboy magazine.
Carney visited Hof's training school in the Polish wilderness where he learned to lie in snow for extended periods and eventually climbed a mountain bare-chested in below freezing weather.
State of Affairs: Paul Tanaka investigation, Henry Waxman, and celebrity endorsements
It's Thursday and that means it's time for State of Affairs, our look at politics and government throughout California. To help us with that we're joined in studio, not by drones, but by KPCC political reporters Alice Walton and Frank Stoltze.
One candidate running for L.A. County sheriff received some unwanted attention this week. While testifying at the trial of a deputy sheriff, former Undersheriff Paul Tanaka said he is the subject of a federal investigation. What were the responses from his opponents?
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors has two open races and the more competitive one for the Third District continues to heat up. What happened at the debate this past weekend?
Moving onto another very competitive race and that's the one to succeed Congressman Henry Waxman. With so many people running for this seat, candidates are doing what they can to get noticed. What is attorney David Kanuth, doing to get support from celebrities?
The 33rd District isn't the only competitive Congressional race in Southern California. In the Santa Clarita area, Republicans Tony Strickland and Steve Knight are battling it out to replace Buck McKeon. How do Republicans pick a favorite in this race?
In the Inland Empire, there has been a dust up over some billboards and mailers in support of former Congressman Joe Baca, who is running for Congressman Gary Miller's seat. The problem seems to be that no one knows just who is funding these ads, so what do we know about this mysterious group?.
Case against LA sheriff deputy James Sexton ends in mistrial
Earlier this morning, a mistrial was declared in the federal case against L.A. County Sheriff's deputy James Sexton. Sexton is one of seven current and former sheriffs deputies who've been accused of conspiracy to obstruct justice in the federal probe of the LA County jails.
RELATED: LA jail scandal: Mistrial declared in sheriffs deputy trial
For more, we're joined by KPCC's crime and public safety reporter Rina Palta and Laurie Levinson, a formal federal prosecutor and a professor at Loyola Law School.
Dog Bite Prevention Week: California has highest number of dog bite claims in US
Every year, almost five million people are bitten by dogs, making dog bites one of the most commonly reported health problems. Small children, the elderly and Postal Service carriers are bitten the most according to The American Veterinary Medical Association.
Last year, California led the nation in dog bite insurance claims, which cost $65 million dollars. For more on this, we're joined by Donald Cleary of the National Canine Research Council.
'The Love Punch': Actor Pierce Brosnan gives the comedic caper a try
The new film, "The Love Punch," stars veteran action hero and heartthrob Pierce Brosnan.
The story is a marked departure for the man that's played a private detective, professional jewel thief and British spy. Brosnan and co-star Emma Thompson play a divorced couple who are forced to work together after their retirement funds are stolen by a wealthy French tycoon.
Brosnan sat down and talked to Alex Cohen about the movie, and his own fantasy about life after acting.
How the 'creative placemaking' movement is transforming neighborhoods
Gertrude Stein once said about her home of Oakland, "There's no THERE there," and many people believe that phrase could easily describe to southern California as well.
The region has often been stereotyped as a vast stretch of soulless suburbs and superficial shopping malls. But in recent years, new and vibrant spots that smash that stereotype have been popping up throughout the region.
This coming Tuesday, will host a forum in North Hollywood to look at how we can transform spaces into places.
For a preview, Alex talks with urban planning and cultural policy specialist Maria Rosario Jackson who teaches cultural policy at Claremont Graduate University, who's also an appointee on the National Council on the Arts.
Click here to RSVP FREE to the event in Tuesday, May 27.
Interview Highlights
What is creative placemaking?
The idea of placemaking isn't new. In the urban planning field it was popular in the '70s as an approach to involve citizens more proactively in creating the places where they live and work. The idea of creative placemaking is more recent, and it is the intention of planning with the arts and creativity as a focal point in the community.
What are some examples of this?
"There are a few things that come to mind, some of them are buildings and specific spaces and some are neighborhoods or collections of places that gives you a sense that there's a pulse there. That there's a history, that there's an aspiration. So I think of, for example, Leimert Park, which is a neighborhood that has a lot of vibrancy, that has a history of artists playing a particular role there, there are also small businesses that I think reflect the heritage of the people in that place. That would be an example for me of a place where there's evidence of creative placemaking. These places aren't always perfect, they're not necessarily new and shiny, or designed intentionally with that purpose."
What makes these places different from other places?
"I think when there is an authentic expression of the people who live and work in a place, it shows. I don't have anything specifically against big businesses, however, what demonstrates the character of a place is more evident in businesses that are more unique. I think about where I live, and there's something about being able to walk down the hill and know who the business owners are, and be able to experience something that I may connect with, things that my neighbors may connect with."
Why are these places so important, especially in a city like Los Angeles?
"I think people don't understand Los Angeles...It's an easy place to not get, if you don't get off the freeway, you cannot get it. So for a place that has the kind of sprawl, I think it is really important to have neighborhoods and places that are authentically generated by the people who live there. So I do think that we are both creatures of our environment and we are active makers of our environment, and I'm not sure that we've taken the role as citizens that we've taken the role of making our environment as seriously as we should have."
National Hamburger Day: Who has the best burger in LA? You vote!
May 28 is National Hamburger Day and we here at Take Two want to hear from YOU about your favorite burger in Los Angeles.
In the comments section below, tell us which L.A. eatery has the best burger in town. The burger and the restaurant with the most votes will get featured on the show!
If you can, try and think outside the In-N-Out box. Take Two host A Martinez is partial to the Father's Office burger, so that's ONE vote for them.
Let us know what you think in the comments below, or on our Facebook page.