We check in on presidential poll numbers in the wake of last week's debate.; Frank Stoltze gives us an update on the pulse of SoCal voters.; The new documentary, "The House I Live In," turns a lens on America's war on drugs.; The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in the affirmative action case Fisher vs. University of Texas.; Many legal observers believe the court may curtail, or even eliminate, the ability of public and private colleges and universities to employ racial and ethnic preferences in admissions.; We discuss two new tax initiatives, Prop 30 and 38, that will be on California's November ballot.; We look into the sale of Variety, the 107-year-old entertainment news magazine.; Should we be able to vote using our smartphones?; The City of LA and the Getty yesterday opened a new visitor center for the 80-year-old mural "América Tropical."; LA County voters will decide whether they want Measure J, a long-term extension of a half-cent transportation sales tax.; New book shares intimate, personal stories of early LGBTQ identity.
Romney gains traction in national polls following first debate
Just a couple of weeks ago, the presidential race was looking pretty good for President Obama, but that seems to have changed since last week's debate.
Most American's thought Mitt Romney won the debate, and the former governor has gotten a pretty good bounce from it.
We'll talk about the poll numbers with Sean Trende, the senior elections analyst for Real Clear Politics.
What's your issue? KPCC wants to know
We check in with KPCC's Frank Stoltze as he takes the pulse of California voters, live from Philippe's restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. Click here for more info on Frank's meet-up.
Stoltze's series of public meet-ups is part of a new online project conducted by KPCC and WNYC called That's My Issue.
'The House I Live In' doc turns critical lens on decades-long war on drugs
Documentary filmmaker Eugene Jarecki has become something of a war reporter.
His acclaimed film, "Why We Fight," examined the origins and consequences of the so-called military industrial complex. His new film, "The House I Live In," turns a lens on a different sort of war, America's war on drugs.
In a sprawling narrative that weaves together history and personal stories, Jarecki brings us a penetrating look at the decades-long battle against drugs.
Fisher vs. University of Texas: Affirmative action gets its day in court
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in Fisher vs. University of Texas.
The case stems from a legal complaint by Texas student Abigail Fisher who was denied admission to the University of Texas at Austin in 2008.
Fisher, who is white, claims she was unfairly rejected from a university because of affirmative action.
We speak to Tejinder Singh from SCOTUSblog.
Affirmative action in the news: Are race-based college admissions fair?
Many legal observers believe the court may curtail, or even eliminate, the ability of public and private colleges and universities to employ racial and ethnic preferences in admissions.
The Fisher vs. University of Texas case may have important consequences for California, which banned affirmative action in 1996, but has seen several attempts to overturn it.
Whenever the affirmative-action debate comes up, the question is often: Are race based admissions fair? Do they work?
For years, UCLA law professor Richard Sander has been looking into these questions.
He's co-author of a new book called "Mismatch: How Affirmative Action Hurts Students Its Intended To Help And Why Universities Won't Admit It." He joins us now from the Supreme Court.
Props 30 and 38: The ins and outs of competing tax initiatives
A look at two initiatives on the ballot: Propositions 30 and 38
Both measures would increase taxes to boost revenue for California's schools
Prop 30 is backed by Governor Jerry Brown. Prop 38 is backed by Pasadena civil rights attorney Molly Munger, whose campaign released its first television attack ad yesterday
Munger is not the only one who has come out swinging against the Governor's initiative. Her brother, Charles Munger Jr., is also working to defeat the measure.
For more on this we go to John Myers, Political Editor for KXTV in Sacramento.
The future of Variety after its $25 million sale to Penske Media Corp
If the words "feevee," "cleffer" and "chopsocky" mean anything to you, there's a good chance you read Variety.
The show biz trade publication has a new owner, Penske Media Corporation, which bought Variety yesterday for $25 million.
For more on the sale and what it means for the trade rag's future, we're joined by Brooks Barnes. He's a media reporter for the New York Times.
LA's 'América Tropical' mural gets a new $10 million home
The City of Los Angeles and the Getty yesterday opened a $10 million visitor center for the 80-year-old David Alfaro Siqueiros mural entitled "América Tropical."
KPCC's Adolfo Guzman-Lopez says it's one that civic leaders had censored for its left-leaning political symbolism.
Measure J hopes to extend half-cent transportation sales tax
On November 6, L.A. County voters will decide whether they want a long-term extension of a half-cent transportation sales tax.
Four years ago, voters approved Measure R, which initially added the half-cent tax. It expires in 2039, so Measure J seeks to extend this 30 years beyond that. KPCC’s Corey Moore reports the new initiative – Measure J – would extend the tax 30 years beyond that.
Proponents are careful to emphasize that Measure J seeks to continue — not increase — the sales tax.
Voter approval would pave the way for Metro to speed up construction on a variety of transit projects by selling bonds against the measure’s anticipated revenue of $90 billion.
“If we can extend Measure R through Measure J, that will allow us to hire a lot of people, to save taxpayers a ton of money because you beat inflation, you take advantage of the competitive construction bids right now because the industry’s depressed but also for another 30 years, you can extend the subsidies for bus operations as well as rail," said Metro spokesperson Marc Littman.
If Measure J passes, crews could start construction on up to fifteen rail and other transit projects within the next five years, instead of the twenty years currently planned. Some of those projects include the second phase of the Gold Line Eastside Extension, the Green Line Extension to LAX, and additional legs of the Westside Subway Extension.
Measure J has widespread support, from business, organized labor, even the environmental community. There is some opposition to the measure, including from L.A. City Councilman Bernard Parks, though he says he understands the arguments for Measure J.
“This is a secondary way to accelerate these projects but at a tremendous expense to the population," said Parks.
Parks, who formerly sat on the Metro board, supported Measure R. He says that legislation was well thought out, but that he feels another 30 years is too long to extend the half-cent sales tax for many in his South L.A. district.
“It sounds like its minimal sales tax and everyone gets to pay it who buys something," said Parks. "But in reality, if you’re on the low end of the spectrum and you’re working 2 or 3 jobs, you can’t afford to continue on the onslaught of raised prices. for electrical, raised prices for sales tax."
The Bus Riders Union also urges a “no” vote on Measure J, because it believes transit funding should go to expand bus service, not rail. About 200 people gathered recently for a Bus Riders Union protest in front of Metro headquarters in Downtown L.A.
Among them, 37-year-old Rosa Miranda, who lives in Westlake near Downtown LA. Through an interpreter, she criticized Measure R as a misguided effort.
“One that would invest billions of dollars in projects that are not serving us. And one that is also displacing many people and gentrifying in our neighborhoods and at the end of the day, not really doing much for the working class people of Los Angeles," she said.
The Bus Riders Union criticizes Metro for cutting or scaling back bus routes that carried many black and brown, low-income commuters. Metro spokesman Littman says his agency has had to cut costs by scaling back some routes, but he says it’s extended others.
“Guess what? Thanks to Measure R, 20 percent of all that tax revenue goes to subsidize bus operations," said Littman. "Because of Measure R, the Bus Riders Union and others out there are enjoying the lowest fares of any major transit property in the United States.”
And, says Littman, that’s not all. “Thanks to Measure R, we’re buying 700 new buses. So this B.S. that they haven’t seen any benefit, that’s ridiculous," he said.
Those state of the art buses will add to — and replace — coaches in a fleet of about 2,200. To pass, Measure J will need a two-thirds vote on November 6.
Why can't we vote online yet?
Banking... baking... finding a public restroom... what do they have in common? There have been apps built to help people accomplish all of those things without putting down their smartphones or laptops. So why can't we vote online yet?
A Martinez talks to Alex Halderman, a professor of computer science at the University of Michigan.
'Born This Way' book shares intimate stories of early LGBTQ identity
Paul Vitagliano says he knew he was gay from about five years old, but he didn't come out to himself for another 14 years.
As an adult, Paul wanted other young kids questioning their sexuality to know they're not alone, so he started a blog called 'Born This Way.' The blog features childhood photos of gays and lesbians, along with personal stories inspired by those pictures.
'Born This Way' is now a book and it features everyday Americans and more well-known names like Congressman Barney Frank to Perez Hilton.