Take Two

Unemployment dropped to 7.8 percent, the lowest rate since President Obama took office in January 2009.; San Bernardino may be bankrupt, but Riverside is still in good shape thanks to UC Riverside and scrappy entrepreneurs.; LAPD Chief Charlie Beck unveiled new rules redefining his department's stance on detaining illegal immigrants.; Congressional Democrats need 25 seats to retake the gavel from Republicans this November.; Governor Brown recently signed off on legislation that will enable classic car enthusiasts to buy brand new license plates with a retro look.; "Precious" director Lee Daniels joins the show to discus his latest work, "The Paperboy."; The presidential elections are this Sunday in Venezuela, what does it mean for Hugo Chavez?; Ruxandra Guidi talks to some Venezuelan-Americans about who they're voting for.; Entertainment Weekly writer Anthony Breznican explains how Tim Burton's childhood home of Burbank inspired his work.; Finally, our Weekend Alibi and the Week In Review.

A food fight of sorts is stewing between Mexico and the United States over tomatoes.; Headstart programs in South L.A. remain closed.; KPCCs Steven Cuevas reports there can be surprising rewards to doing business in one of the nation's poorest cities.; The operator of the San Onofre nuclear power plant formally submitted a plan to restart part of the shuttered station.; We talk to John Koza, chair of an organization lobbying to get rid of the Electoral College.; Officials in Iran attempted to halt the decline of their currency, due to the West’s economic sanctions.; Los Angeles has a sizable Iranian community, many worry about how the economic crisis will affect family members.; We talk with the filmmakers of the documentary "Last Call at the Oasis," about the global water crisis.; British scientists predict that robot bees are the answer to colony collapse, the epidemic killing honey bees and threatening agriculture around the world.; How exactly do you control your Klout score? And is it legal for employers to ask for it?

This week the U.S. government began flying Mexican deportees to Mexico City.; Are banks who were found to be using fraudulent lending practices cleaning up their acts?; David Kipen, book critic and owner of Libros Schmibros, joins the show to talk about Banned Books Week.;Kevin Ferguson reports on the use of graffiti as commercial art in Los Angeles.; A slew of political video games out this election season are trying to snag the youth vote.; We'll be unveiling a new debate bingo game so listeners can play along at home.; A record number of openly gay candidates are running for seats in the next Congress and almost all of them say their sexuality is a non-issue on the campaign trail.; A new book seeks to explain to Afghan soldiers common Western behavior, actions that sometimes are perceived as an insult.; How is it possible that some athletes, some who make millions within a few years, lose all their wealth within five years of retirement?; The Cinefamily challenges Angelenos to a Video Nasties Watch-a-thon contest.

The L.A. City Council is voting on whether to repeal the ban on pot shops that they passed this July.; We look into the argument that when you tax the walthiest more, they move to states where the rates are lower.; We talk to Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, who was barred from participating in the presidential debates.; The MacArthur Foundation announced this years $500,000 Genius Grant winners, including four Californians.; We find out what Arnold Schwarzenegger's new autobiography called "Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story," is all about.; Time Warner owns the rights to air Lakers games, but what if you don't have Time Warner Cable?; Music critic Drew Tewksbury talks about the history of Dubstep.; Detroit auto companies and Silicon Valley tech companies are figuring out how to let you Facebook while driving.; A slew of SoCal restaurants have been experimenting with carbonated cocktails and homemade soda pops.

Gov. Jerry Brown on Saturday signed 65 bills into law but made more noise about the ones he vetoed. Are presidential debates about questions and answers?; Roxana Soto, co-author of the new book, 'Bilingual is Better,' joins the show to talk about the benefits of growing up bilingual.; The magazine Scientific American, is publishing a Global Science Scorecard, a ranking of nations on their science credentials. We'll discuss the results.; Kate Zernike, author of the book, "Boiling Mad: Inside Tea Party America,' talks about the state of the Tea Party.; What low voter turnout during the primaries means for the November election.; Will Schwalbe talks about the End of Your Life Book Club he started with his mother, who was dying of cancer.; Self-driving cars could be on California roads in just a few years.; Plastic surgery's a booming business, but the industry's been changing in Southern California.

A foreign exchange student at La Mirada High School in L.A. is one of the most talked about high school football athletes in the state.; Think your academic career hinges on junior year? Think again. New research may prove that it’s actually the third grade that is the most critical pivot point for students.; Prop 31 is an initiative that claims it will improve government efficiency and accountability, which sounds good, but does this claim hold water?; Rich business people from Mainland China are snapping up high-end real estate in California. Their location of choice: San Marino.; A new movement in medicine embraces the parallels between human and animal physiology.; We’ll speak to Brian Taylor, the co-author of a UCLA study titled "Why It Wasn't Carmageddon."; Governor Jerry Brown has until Sept 30 to sign AB 889, which seeks to provide domestic workers with many new workplace benefits.; LA-based band Ozomatli joins the show to talk about their new album, Ozokidz.'; and the Dinner Party joins the show.

This fall, the issue of same-sex marriage will appear on the ballot of four states: Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington. Why these states, and what are the chances of voters’ passing the measure?; We meet Aram Sahakian, the man who oversees special traffic operations and street closure for the Los Angeles' Department of Transportation, then, Corey Moore reports on what the Carmageddon construction project entails.; Jason Felch from the LA Times joins us to talk about his series on how the Boy Scouts failed to report sexual abuse to the police.; We’ll look at how new Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi has changed the calculus of power in the region.; Author Davy Rothbart talks about his new collection of essays, “My Heart is an Idiot.”; After 19 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, John Edwards Smith walked out of Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail this week. He joins the show to talk about his ordeal.; A new book delves deeper into the life and career of photographer Ansel Adams.  

Mitt Romney’s faces an ever-widening gap in Ohio, which begs the question: can he win without the Buckeye State?; Which state races will Republican super PACs invest in?; We find out more about the cyber attack that affected Wells Fargo customers yesterday.; Jay Greene, a Senior Writer with CNET, joins the show to discuss his three-part series on the lifecycle of the iPhone.; Director Daniel Barnz joins the show to discuss his latest film, "Won't Back Down."; Congressman Xavier Becerra will be on the show to talk about Congress's plans to avoid sequestration and fix the budget mess.; Amy Howe of Scotus Blog joins the show to give a preview of the important cases Congress has coming down the pipeline.; We break down the five myths of early voting.; Magnum Opus theatre injects new life into discarded, rejected film scripts.

A surge in early voting by absentee ballot is challenging campaigns' conventional wisdom about the final "72-hour push;" The multi-state recall of peanut and almond butters is spreading even wider; Arnold Schwarzenegger is making an effort to repair his public image; We take a look at President Obama's address today at the U.N.; The NFL referee lockout continues, and many fans worry the dispute will have lasting impact on the season; Can a few words dramatically increase the economic value of a yard sale castaway? California corrections officials investigate an unusual spike in prison riots; And Actor Bob Balaban joins the show to talk about his children's book, "The Creature From The 7th Grade."

We look into the varying voting rights throughout the country and how they might have an impact on the election in November.; Reporter Sharon McNary looks into the Super PAC money being spent in two races in California.; In the latest installment in our series "Props to You," we'll cover Proposition 35, which stiffens penalties for those found guilty of human trafficking.; A new report out today from the international environmental group, Oceana, says climate change is affecting the seas and making food from it more scarce in vulnerable nations.; We'll take a look back at which shows came out on top at the Emmys last night. Will changes in ownership of AEG affect the future of football in Los Angeles?;

Today on the show, we'll take a look at how small businesses in California are looking to Mexico for new trade opportunities. Then, Obama's in the Central Valley to discuss the state's water woes. Plus, a new book by the editor of the NYT's Modern Love column explores "Love Illuminated," most Californians view weight and exercise as top risks to kids, newly found photos in Antarctica shed new light on one of Ernest Shackleton's last expeditions, and much more.

Today we start with a look at the Comcast/Time Warner merger and what it may mean for your Internet service. Then, the business of e-cigs is booming, but the industry braces for FDA regulation. Plus, local restaurant causes a stir by adding a 3% healthcare surcharge to customers' tabs, Slate's Emily Yoffe joins us with some etiquette lessons for Valentine's Day, plus much more.

Today on the show, we'll start with a look at UCLA's latest report on diversity in the entertainment industry. Then, Attorney General Eric Holder calls on states to rethink their voting ban for felons. Plus, drought hits Central Valley farmers hard, Frank Stoltze reports on the lack of sprinkler systems in many of LA's high rises, we get an update on the Kim Pham trial and much more.

Today on the show we'll start with a look at the state of immigration reform, as advocacy groups plan to play hardball with GOP lawmakers. Then, Gov. Jerry Brown has two more years to reduce the California prison population. Our Tuesday Reviewsday critics introduce us to new tunes by Neneh Cherry, Romeo Santos and more.

Friday we talk to local marionette legend Bob Baker on turning 90. Also, we find out what the Affordable Care Act addiction coverage means. Plus, despite rain, some California communities could soon run out of water. We also have Friday Flashback, a discussion with the LEGO movie's director and writer team and much more.

Today on the show, we talk to reporter Erika Aguilar about the latest in the Echo Park gang injunction debate. Then we discuss how the Lakers ran out of eligible players Wednesday night but still managed to win the game. Also, Silver Lake is no longer considered the Eastside, LAUSD teachers are calling for "repairs not iPads," State of Affairs looks at the latest political news and much more.

Today on the show, we'll check in with a journalist covering the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Then, CVS will stop selling tobacco products in October and how the threat of relapse is ever present for recovering addicts, plus much more.

Today on the show, we talk with reporter Sam Quinones about the resurgence of heroin in the US. Then, a rise in Texas border apprehensions poses humanitarian need. Plus, KPCC reports that the city of LA spends millions of taxpayer dollars on police union activities, our Tuesday Reviewsday critics look a new music and much more.

Today on the show, we'll take a look at the life of Philip Seymour Hoffman, who was found dead over the weekend. Why do so many celebrities suffer from drug addiction? Then, California got some rain over the weekend, but not enough to relieve the drought. What can people do to conserve water at home? Plus, a look at the latest entertainment news in On The Lot, restoration of Medi-Cal dental coverage comes too late for many, and much more.

Today, we start with a discussion about Speaker John Boehner's push for a GOP immigration bill. Then, LA's large Salvadoran community to vote on their home country's national election for the first time. Plus, we visit a Chinatown temple preparing for Lunar New Year celebrations. Also, recipes for Chinese dumplings and for kicked up guacamole in preparation for Super Bowl XLVIII, high-tech handbags, and much more.

Today on the show we start with a discussion about the retirement of Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman. Then, Gov. Brown is meeting with water managers to address California's drought issues. Meanwhile, GOP congressman introduce a bill to halt San Joaquin River restoration. Plus, can tech innovation make guns safer?, Pediatricians urge parents to secure their firearms, Tijuana suffers from slow Internet speeds, plus much more.