Take Two

What are the rules when it comes to political campaigning in the workplace? It it even legal? Plus, in the new Mother Jones, Shane Bauer, an American formerly held prisoner in Iran, criticizes the use of solitary confinement in U.S. prisons. Then, how foreclosures are impacting likely voters this election season, Molly Peterson reports on Prop. 37, and whether the average American really cares whether food is genetically modified, and much more.

Newsweek announces its shuttering its print publication and going all digital. Plus, we take a look at a controversial French study on GMO corn and its effect on lab rats, a study shows that 'positive stress' is beneficial and crucial to infant development, we look at what's next for the Livestrong Foundation after Lance Armstrong's resignation and much more.

We examine last night's presidential debate, from the topics covered, body language and how a woman moderated the debate for the first time in 20 years. Plus, the food fight between Prop 37 supporters and GMO companies heats up, a secret geo-engineering initiative has environmentalists nervous, a Pinterest account in Pennsylvania displays the town's alleged criminals and much more.

Sec. of State Hillary Clinton claimed responsibility for security issues at the U.S. Consulate in Libya, we'll discuss how that will affect the presidential debate tonight. Plus, citizens of Baldwin Hills and surrounding areas are concerned about a new fracking study and 50 years since the Cuban Missile Crisis, a new book looks at its impact on the U.S. and abroad.

KPCC's Josie Huang reports from the K-pop Convention, KCON, in Irvine, where fans from all over the U.S. came to see their favorite Korean Pop stars. Plus, we look ahead to the second presidential debate coming up this Tuesday, we break down Prop 34, and a new report shows a record number of immigrants running for Congress, and much more.

We recap the vice-presidential debate with Patt Morrison, and analyze the body language of both candidates. Plus, food writer Mark Bittman of the New York Times joins the show to talk about his upcoming feature on California's San Joaquin Valley, Erika Aguilar reports on two young Afghan women studying to be judges in SoCal, and much more.

Amnesty International issues a report showing the use of torture by police and military in Mexico is on the rise.; Book Critic David Kipen joins the show to discuss the Nobel Prize in Literature and the finalists in the National Book Awards.; Betting on the Nobel Prize.; Hollywood's quest to appeal to the Latino population.; How strong is Catholicism this election cycle?; Marketplace's Bob Moon talks about his experiences covering the shuttle program.; Fifty years ago Rachel Carson single-handedly started the environmental movement with her book "Silent Spring".; Issa Rae, creator of the web series 'Awkward Black Girl,' joins the show to talk about her sudden fame, and what’s next for her.; Twitter and real-time political opinions.

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.

Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was sentenced this morning to at least 30 years in prison on 45 counts of child sexual abuse.; We take a look at the debating style of Vice President Joe Biden and GOP candidate Paul Ryan.; What you need to know when you have to care for an ailing, elderly parent.; We'll find out the latest in music news with NPR music critic Ann Powers and Soul-Sides music blogger Oliver Wang.; New research reveals how the nation's lawmakers position their portfolios and how they win and lose money on Wall Street.; PBS documentary "The Choice: 2012" promises to give an up close and personal view of both presidential candidates.; Patt Morrison reports on Los Angeles opening its arms to and accepting applications for its first ever poet laureate.; South Korea's president wants to use PSY's "Gangnam Style" to help create a national brand.

Calif. Governor Jerry Brown told state regulators to immediately allow oil refineries to make an early transition to winter-blend gasoline to help with rising gas prices.; Congressional panel has concluded that the federal government should block mergers of U.S. firms with Chinese telecommunications companies suspected of ties to the Chinese government.; President Obama visits the site for a future monument for farm worker activist Cesar Chavez.; Jude Joffe-Block reports on the complex collaborations between manufacturers on both sides of the US-Mexico border.; Talking with Ingrid Croce, widow of the late singer Jim Croce, about her new book, "I've Got a Name.; Mitt Romney is giving what's billed as a landmark foreign policy speech in Virginia on Monday.; One of Mitt Romney's top advisors is a rising Asian American political star from Southern California.; According to a new survey, Americans may have changed their attitudes on counterterrorism policy since Barack Obama became president.

This morning, President Obama and VP Joe Biden announce their plans to curb gun violence. Even though California already has some of the strictest gun laws, some lawmakers are working harder to curb gun violence. Then, a researcher calls for a change to Scrabble's point system, an L.A. photographer documents prison inmates' 'Re-Entry' into society, and much more.

Lance Armstrong reportedly admitted to doping in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, though details are not yet public. Will this big score for Oprah give her struggling cable network, OWN, a boost? Severe air pollution in Beijing, China is causing a frenzy in the state-run media, plus much more.

A Southern California cold snap threatens citrus farming, plus, we take a look at L.A.'s first public fruit orchard. Then, California's prison realignment causes dangerous row of dominoes at local level, a California judge will rule if a 12-year-old boy guilty of murdering neo-Nazi father two years ago, the Los Angeles Kings skate back on the ice, and much more.

Vice President Joe Biden is meeting with film and game industries to talk gun violence. Plus, Saturday marks the 3-year anniversary of the Haiti earthquake. We check in with the ongoing relief effort there. Then, Ventura County strawberry farmers fight frost, Chinese tourism skyrockets in the U.S. and much more.

California Governor Jerry Brown will release his new budget proposal today. Will is help shrink the state's deficit? Then, an autopsy on NFL star Junior Seau shows he suffered from a brain disease caused by head trauma. The Oscar noms are out, who came out on top and who got snubbed? Then, Anglers reel in thousands of 'red devil' jumbo squid in Orange County, we run down the top LA-based crime movies, a San Juan Capistrano woman is fighting to save her beloved dinosaur statue and much more.

According to a new report, 2012 was the hottest year on record for the U.S. On the other side of the world, Australia has been suffering from a longterm heat wave and dangerous brush fires. Then, Latin American countries are reconsidering the legalization of marijuana after similar measures get voted through in the U.S. A new article explains how Tide detergent became a hot commodity in the drug trade. Florida readies for it's annual Python Challenge, where hunters from all over the country compete to rid the Everglades of the overpopulous Burmese Python, plus much more.

A new CA bill proposes the strict tracking of all bullets and shotgun shells sold in the state. Plus, a judge rules that names in the LA archdiocese sex abuse files should be public. Then, 'Awesome Tapes From Africa' blog transports obscure tunes beyond Africa's borders, the Mars500 experiment is over...How did the six volunteers fare during 500 days of solitude? Plus much more.

Kids at LAUSD campuses return to school today for the first time since the Newtown shootings. Have enhanced security measures been put in place yet? Plus, we'll check in with students and parents as they arrive to school. Plus, a new study shows classroom design can have an affect on kids' grades. Then, school citations remain high despite reforms, gadgets and gimmicks take center stage at Consumer Electronics Show, and much more.

Will policy chief Michele Flournoy be the first female secretary of defense? Plus, depictions of torture in 'Zero Dark Thirty' prompt a Senate inquiry; A biofuel-carrying train crosses the US-Canada border, reaping fraudulent carbon credit rewards; San Diego's water supply is evolving because of new demand and a massive desalination project in the works, plus much more.

The 113th Congress is to be sworn in today, ushering in 14 new faces. Then, what issues are ahead for California in 2013? President Obama's new immigration policy could ease separation time for immigrants and their American families, and dialect experts convene in Boston for a conference about the development and new trends in American English, plus much more.

Today we take a look at what's next in the wake of a fiscal cliff deal. Plus, an economist theorizes that the U.S. is nearing an end to a period of growth that began in the 18th century; LA County animal shelters managed to not euthanize any healthy animals in December; Scientists are working to save endangered frogs from a deadly fungus, plus much more.