Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen
Podcasts Take Two
The history of ballot initiatives, Human Voter Guide, listeners share LA ghost stories
solid orange rectangular banner
()
Oct 31, 2018
Listen 49:05
The history of ballot initiatives, Human Voter Guide, listeners share LA ghost stories

The history of ballot initiatives in California, the latest news you can use heading into the midterm election, and our listeners share their personal ghost stories.

A child carries a "ghost" down the aisles while shopping for Halloween merchandise in Alhambra, California on October 23, 2017.
According to a survey from the National Retail Federation which has been conducted annually since 2003, Halloween fans are expected to spend a record $9.1 billion this year, up from the $8.4 billion spent last year. / AFP PHOTO / FREDERIC J. BROWN        (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
A child carries a "ghost" down the aisles while shopping for Halloween merchandise in Alhambra, California on October 23, 2017. According to a survey from the National Retail Federation which has been conducted annually since 2003, Halloween fans are expected to spend a record $9.1 billion this year, up from the $8.4 billion spent last year. / AFP PHOTO / FREDERIC J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
(
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images
)

Less than a week before the November 6 midterm elections, we speak with KPCC's political reporter about what you need to know. Plus, the ballot initiative process in California. And, because it's Halloween, our listeners share their personal ghost stories.

Human Voter Guide

The elections are less than a week away, but we're here to help you get ready. We answer your voting questions and help make sure you're prepared to cast your ballot November 6th.

Guest:

  • Mary Plummer, KPCC political reporter

SoCal Housing

Southern California's real estate market was going gangbusters until recently. Homes were in high demand, selling for top dollar. But now the market appears to be slowing down. The property data company, CoreLogic, reported yesterday that SoCal home sales in September dropped eighteen percent compared to last year. 

Guest:

  • Richard Green, director of USC's Lusk Center for Real Estate

https://twitter.com/CoreLogicInc/status/1057405792016576514

California Dream: Initiative

For the next installment in our California Dream series, we share the story of Hiram Johnson and the birth of the initiative process in California.

More on LAist.com

Bail Bonds Industry

State lawmakers have radically transformed the system of bail, and it's effectively put bail bondsmen out of business. But that industry is fighting back with a petition to bring the issue to voters as a proposition on the 2020 ballot. Take Two learns more about the effort, and how signature gatherers are getting more than $3 a pop for every person they get to sign up.

L.A. Ghost Stories

Los Angeles has the reputation of being a pretty haunted place. Landmarks like the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel, the Queen Mary and Griffith Park are known as spooktacular destinations —especially this time of year. In the true spirit of Halloween, KPCC listeners told us about their personal ghostly tales here in L.A. 

https://www.facebook.com/taketwoshow/videos/116604932563711

Autonomous Vehicles in L.A. Part 3: Traffic

Love the idea, or hate it, autonomous vehicles will have a big effect on pretty much every aspect of life here in Los Angeles once they get here. If you don't think they're coming, Google's Waymo just received California's first permit to test truly driverless vehicles on public roads yesterday. One of AVs' expected effects will be on traffic flow, but whether they'll help or hurt your daily commute is today's subject in our weeklong series about how AVs will impact Los Angeles.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpmk-esnc2D/

The Binge: Halloween edition

It's Halloween! So why not stay in and binge watch something spooky? This month's picks:

  • "The Haunting of Hill House" on Netflix
  • "The Ritual" on Netflix
  • "The Return of the Living Dead" Amazon Prime

Guest:

  • Mark Jordan Legan, co-host of the podcast Film Freaks Forever

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9OzG53VwIk